HOLLAND - Eleven seniors on the Reeths-Puffer boys soccer team had their careers come to an unexpected end on Monday.
They all played well throughout their careers and will all be missed, but one senior, in particular, left a mark on Reeths-Puffer soccer that will be talked about for years.
Liam Smith, the Rockets’ career scoring leader, single season scoring leader, and career assist leader, played his final game in the Rockets’ 2-0 loss to Hudsonville in the semifinal round of Division 1 districts at Holland West Ottawa High School.
While Smith has a lot of exciting soccer in front of him at Western Michigan University, he was emotional about ending the great ride he had as a Rocket.
“It’s been everything for me since freshman year,” Smith said moments after the disappointing defeat. “My records don’t matter now that we’ve lost in the second round of districts. It’s a team sport and winning is most important. It will be cool to go down in school history, but I couldn’t have done it without these guys.”
Smith said his connection with his teammates was special and gave him the drive to accomplish so much of what he did over four years of varsity soccer.
R-P senior Liam Smith plays in the final game of his great varsity career. Photo/Joe Lane
“I’m going to miss it a lot,” he said. “I had words with the boys about how much I love them and will miss them.”
R-P Coach Kody Harrell said Smith’s emotions, and his obvious love for his team, poured out when the Rockets huddled after the game.
“He’s an amazing person,” Harrell said. “I opened the floor to the seniors after I spoke, and he had tears. I’ve never seen him cry before. But his whole speech was just thanking his fellow seniors and teammates, and about how high school soccer was the most fun he’s ever had.”
Another senior four-year starter, R-P goalie Gage Hopkins, had to finish his high school career in an even more difficult way, because he could not dress for the game.
He received a red card in the district tournament opener against Jenison, which brings an automatic one-game suspension, and he was also injured.
Junior Gavin Wright filled in for Hopkins and did an admirable job, stopping four of six Hudsonville shots.
Smith tries to keep his balance while going over an opponent for the ball. Photo/Joe Lane
“It’s tough,” Harrell said about having his longtime standout goalie miss the game. “You feel for him. Regardless of what the card was, I don’t know if he was well enough to play with an injury. It’s just unfortunate that the card and injury took place. It was tough to see a senior not suit up in what ended up being his last game.”
Smith, who played four years of varsity soccer with Hopkins, said his friend’s absence made the final game even more difficult.
“For me it hit harder, I think, because we were two varsity starters since freshmen year,” he said. “It was hard to not share that last game together. But at the end of the day things happen, and the game of soccer is chaotic. It was sad and frustrating, but we had to adapt.”
The game was 0-0 until the 32nd minute when Hudsonville took a 1-0 lead, which held as the halftime score.
Reeths-Puffer was outshot 3-1 in the first half.
With 26:26 remaining in the game, Hudsonville took a 2-0 lead following a Reeths-Puffer defensive mishap.
R-P's Owen Ritsema (13) races an opponent to the ball. Photo/Joe Lane
The Rockets fought hard to get on the scoreboard but were mostly held to shots from 20-30 yards out from the Hudsonville goal.
“They have great athletes,” Harrell said about Hudsonville. “So, with them playing a line further back, a lot of our shots had to come from further out. It’s not always ideal to take shots from 25 or 30 yards, but that's where the openings were. A whole game of that is a tough ask, but we didn’t have any space to take behind them.”
Hudsonville, which now advances to Wednesday’s district title game, finished with six shots on goal while the Rockets totaled five.
Reeths-Puffer finished the season with an outstanding 16-5-1 record.
