NORTON SHORES – The Reeths-Puffer boys soccer team has surprised everyone so far this season with its hot start.
But who would have predicted that the Rockets would beat archrival Mona Shores, always a daunting opponent, by a mercy rule score?
Well it happened on Wednesday night, when the still unbeaten Rockets traveled to Shores and pounded the Sailors 8-0 in a game that ended shortly after halftime due to the eight-goal differential rule.
R-P's Nick Clemens weaves through Mona Shores defenders. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The victory left R-P with a 4-0-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the O-K Green conference standings.
The Rockets have now beaten Mona Shores in three straight meetings going back through last season, but the previous two were nothing like Wednesday’s blowout.
“It’s something you really don’t expect,” said R-P coach Kody Harrell about his team earning such an easy win. “I have great respect for Bill (Mona Shores coach Bill Moulatsiotis). He’s a great coach and they have a good staff.
“They’re a good team and program. They have good players coming up, so this won’t be a new normal. But we played a great game and stayed focused.”
Saif Abunayla (6), who scores twice for the Rockets. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Just how dominant was R-P’s performance? The Rockets outshot the Sailors 8-0 in the game, and every shot went in the net.
Six different Rockets netted goals, with freshman Saif Abunayla leading the team with two.
“It feels pretty good,” Abunayla said about his performance. “It’s really a good experience. It feels good, just whole game we were really dialed in the whole time.”
Reeths-Puffer didn’t waste much time getting its offense going, with Abunayla netting the first goal just 6:58 into the game.
Clemens drills the ball for R-P. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Just 70 seconds later senior Nick Clemens put the Rockets ahead 2-0.
A Mona Shores own goal at the 9:41 mark, which was credited to Abunayla,, made the score 3-0.
Less than two minutes later, a Mona Shores player received a red card, which means he was out of the game, and the Sailors had to play a man short for the rest of the night.
Brayden Ross took his turn scoring at the 13:28 mark, putting Reeths-Puffer ahead 4-0.
Trent Hanks followed with a tally with 17:01 left in the first half and the lead was extended to 5-0.
R-P's Owen Ritsema brings the ball up the field. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Junior Owen Ritsema joined the scoring club with 8:37 left in the first half, making the score 6-0.
Less than two minutes later, senior Ian Wright scored the final goal of the first half.
The Rockets needed only 66 seconds of the second half to end the game on the mercy rule when sophomore London Carpenter scored off a Ritsema assist.
Reeths-Puffer will host Traverse City Central in a non-conference game on Friday.