MUSKEGON – Mona Shores’ Easton Lopez delivered a perfect pass downfield to teammate Antonio Lewis, who raced toward the Reeths-Puffer net and had just one defender to beat.
Lewis took his chance – a touch shot that rolled toward the left side of the net as R-P fans held their breaths.
R-P goalkeeper Gage Hopkins, protecting a one-goal lead, wasn’t worried.
“I could kind of tell his body was angled off to the side, and it just looked like it wasn’t coming anywhere near me,” Hopkins said.
The ball rolled harmlessly past the net, and a few minutes later the Rockets sealed a 2-1 win over rival Mona Shores in the first round of the O-K Green Conference Tournament on Tuesday at home.
R-P's Liam Smith (15), who scored both of the Rockets' goals. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The victory gave the Rockets a 2-0 record over Mona Shores this season, but more importantly, kept them in the hunt for a conference tournament championship.
The Rockets will face Zeeland West in the second round on Thursday, after the Dux defeated Zeeland East 3-0 Tuesday night. The Dux will host the Rockets after defeating R-P 3-2 in a tense contest on Sept. 21.
A victory in that game would have given Reeths-Puffer first place in the conference in the regular season, and the loss definitely stung.
But R-P leading scorer Liam Smith, who had both goals against Mona Snores, said the Rockets will be ready and their only focus is on winning right now.
Smith referenced the Rockets’ district championship victory over Spring Lake last year as evidence they can win close ones – just like Tuesday night.
R-P's Nick Clemens (7) tries to get past a Mona Shores defender. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“We’ve been in situations like that,” Smith said. “With a lot of seniors – I think there were nine of us at any given time – it was easy to keep our composure because we’ve dealt with that pressure before.
"I like these games. I know a lot of my teammates like these games. They’re closer, they’re more fun. It raises your anxiety a little bit, but it’s a fun game to play in.”
Smith netted both of his goals in the first half on Tuesday, one off a penalty kick and another on a shot down the middle, giving the Rockets a 2-0 halftime lead.
Just a few minutes into the second half, Mona Shores’ Lopez cut through the middle of the Rocket defense and sent a ground ball to the left corner of the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.
The Rockets held firm the rest of the way to down their rival and advance.
R-P's Zac Sampson (3) tries to work his way through a maze of defenders. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Reeths-Puffer is now 14-3-1 on the season while Mona Shores fell to 3-14-1.
“Records don’t matter in rivalries,” said R-P Coach Kody Harrell. “You could easily get distracted and start leaning a certain way with that, but in rivalries, our boys knew better than to let off the gas.”
Tuesday was likely the final home game for the Rockets’ 11-man senior class. Nine of those seniors have been on varsity since they were sophomores and two since they were freshmen (Smith and Hopkins).
Smith, the school’s all-time leading scorer, is five away from 100 career goals and Hopkins is one shutout away from tying the school record (23).
“That’s not normal to have that many guys with more than two years of varsity experience,” Harrell said. “It’s a special group.”
R-P's Taylor Boone (16) gets tied up with a Mona Shores player. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Smith said it’s been a fun ride.
“I love these boys,” he said. “JT (Fansler), Gage, Kyler (Brainard) – I’m missing some people, but we’ve been playing together since we were four-years old. The Purple People Eaters, that was the name of our team. We’ve been playing together forever.
“This group of boys – even the ones I didn’t play with, just growing up in school with them - it means absolutely everything to be able to be on the field with these guys.”
