FRUITPORT - The Reeths-Puffer boys soccer team played really well in the first part of the season, blasting out of the gates with a promising 6-2-1 record.
The Rockets have been trying to get back to competing at that level for several weeks now, and they managed to do it on Thursday night.
Ironically, the effort ended in a 4-1 loss to Fruitport in a Division 2 district championship game, bringing Reeths-Puffer’s season to a close.
The bottom line is that Fruitport is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state, and has withstood a lot of great efforts from good opponents this season.
R-P's Kaden VanderLaan (19) tries to stop a Fruitport attacker. Photo/Joe Lane
The Rockets were just the latest victims.
“They have a ton of athletes and athleticism,” R-P Coach Kody Harrell said about Fruitport. “It works for them to play kickball and run. They find those channels and run on them, and play very, very sound defense
“We’re a real young team and it’s hard to score goals when you are not used to that speed and pace.”
The tough part about the loss is that Reeths-Puffer made Fruitport work, and even tied the Trojans in shots on goal (10-10), something few opponents manage to do.
R-P's Owen Ritzema (13) battles for the ball. Photo/Joe Lane
But they still fell victim to the Trojans’ quick-strike offense, and the damage started early.
Fruitport’s Isaac VanderMolen scored on a header on a corner kick just 90 seconds in the game, putting the Rockets back on their heels.
R-P settled in and played evenly with the Trojans for a while after that, until Fruitport’s Jorge Burgos-Yack found the net with a high shot from about 20 yards out with 6:18 remaining in the first half.
About five minutes later, the Trojans’ Carter Gregor popped in the rebound from a blocked shot, and Fruitport took a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime.
R-P's Saif Abunayla heads the ball over several Trojans. Photo/Joe Lane
Fruitport pulled ahead 4-0 in the second half on another goal by Gregor.
The Rockets finally broke through with a goal by Owen Ritsema with 6:42 left in the game.
“To get one near the end, it was great to see the guys still playing with that heart and spirit,” Harrell said.
Reeths-Puffer finished its sometimes promising, sometimes frustrating season with an 11-9-1 record.
R-P' goalkeeper Gavin Wright makes a save. Photo/Joe Lane
It started with a lot of early wins, a slump that included six losses in seven games, and finally four straight wins leading into Thursday’s game.
The promising news is that the Rockets only had seven seniors on the 26-player roster they brought into the game. That means a lot of players – including many starters – will be returning next fall and should be even better.
“Like I told them at the end, the score may not reflect it, but they represented our school and community really well tonight,” Harrell said. “I think they played with the right intensity and the right passion. I am excited to build on this.”