Liam Smith opened his senior year in style on Wednesday, scoring four goals to lead the Reeths-Puffer soccer team to an 8-0 mercy rule victory over Ludington in the Rockets’ season opener.
Aiden McCollum, Ian Wright, Nick Clemens and Levi Carlson also found the net for the Rockets. Carlson’s goal, and one of Smith’s goals, came on penalty kicks.
Clemens had two assists for Reeths-Puffer while McCollum, Kyler Brainard, Zac Sampson and Nate Clemens each had one.
Liam Smith, who scored four goals in the victory.
“Liam Smith showed great leadership and he and Aiden McColllum were a deadly one-two punch up top,” said R-P Coach Kody Harrell. “Aiden was a defender midfielder last year and he looked like he had been playing the attacker position his whole life.”
Senior goalie Gage Hopkins collected the shutout, stopping four Ludington shots. The Rockets totaled 16 shots on goal.
Nick Clemens, who had a goal and two assists.
“Gage added another shutout to his career total,” Harrell said. “Ludington had a ton of through ball that he came out on and ended the play very well like an extra defender, so it felt like he had 15 saves.”
Harrell credited JT Fansler, Luke Callender, Evan Loveland and Ethan Pennington with strong defensive play and Wright, Brainard and Nick Clemens for strong midfield contributions.
The Rockets will visit Forest Hills Northern on Friday night.
