ZEELAND — Five minutes into an O-K Green conference tournament semifinal showdown against Zeeland West, the Reeths-Puffer soccer team was dealt a devastating blow.
With the score tied 1-1, Rocket goalkeeper Gage Hopkins was issued a red card after colliding with a ZW player going after a loose ball. Hopkins was ejected, the Dux received a penalty kick and the Rockets had to play a man short for the final 75 minutes.
The situation would be enough to effectively end the night for most teams. But these Rockets aren’t most teams.
Reeths-Puffer somehow rallied from the setback and a 3-1 deficit to post a stunning 4-3 victory on Thursday in Zeeland.
Liam Smith scored twice in the victory while Nick Clemens scored the game-winner about midway through the second half.
R-P's Nick Clemens, who scored the game-winning goal. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
The victory avenged a bitter loss to Zeeland West a few weeks ago. R-P fell 3-2 in that game after a late ZW penalty kick goal, and it cost the Rockets first place in the regular season conference standings and the top seed in the O-K Green tournament.
R-P Coach Kody Harrell was not surprised his team found a way to rally and win on Thursday, despite playing most of the game a man short.
“That’s just these guys,” Harrell said when asked about the incredible victory. “Yeah, we have a great record this year, it’s a special group with skill and all that. But it’s a special group because of their heart, their determination and their fight for each other.
“I’m really proud of the guys because of how they work and they fight together.”
Reeths-Puffer, now 15-3-1, advances to the O-K Green tournament championship game at top-seeded Holland (10-4-5) on Tuesday. The Rockets were the only O-K Green team to beat the Dutch this year, a 3-2 final in early September.
R-P's Liam Smith, who scored two goals in the comeback win. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
Because a red card carries a one-game suspension, the Rockets will have to play without Hopkins, a fourth-year standout goalie, for the title game.
“We’re obviously going to miss Gage on Tuesday,” Harrell said. “He’s an amazing keeper.”
Hopkins received the red card with 35:01 left in the first half. The ball was loose in the box and, while diving toward the ball, Hopkins collided with and took out a Zeeland player.
In addition to the red card, the Dux were awarded a penalty kick, which they converted to take a 2-1 lead.
Harrell argued that a “double jeopardy” stipulation should have been applied — meaning the refs shouldn’t have applied both a red card and a penalty kick, but they disagreed.
“It’s called double jeopardy,” Harrell said. “If you reward a PK, it can’t be a red card. That’s what we kept coming back to. The ref’s explanation was that double jeopardy comes into play if the player is making a play on the ball. He felt our guy wasn’t making a play on the ball.”
R-P goalie Gavin Wright, who held ZW scoreless in the second half. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
Zeeland West scored first with 36:20 left in the first half, but the Rockets answered on a Liam Smith goal with 35:38 left to even the score 1-1.
Just seconds later, the red card situation happened and the Dux took a 2-1 lead on the penalty kick. Zeeland West added another goal with 24:20 to go in the first half to take a 3-1 lead.
From then on, the Reeths-Puffer defense didn’t allow a goal, with backup goalkeeper Gavin Wright in the net.
Reeths-Puffer scored with 20:21 left in the half on a rebound goal by Owen Ritsema to pull within 3-2 at the break.
A second goal from Smith evened the score with 27:39 to play in the second half.
R-P's Cohen Beck tries to get the ball past a defender. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
Five minutes later, Nick Clemens gave the Rockets their first and only lead, punching in the rebound following a free kick. The Rockets kept the pressure on and continued to shut down the Dux' offense to run the clock out on the thrilling win.
Harrell said the goal this time of year is to play “your best soccer, your most energetic soccer, your most passionate soccer.” He saw that from his team on Thursday, and thinks the game could be one to point back to if the Rockets have more postseason success.
“We’ve had a lot of wins, we’ve had a great season,” the coach said. “But we could really look back at this date at the end of districts, if things go our way then. This will definitely be the date we look back on with big smiles on our faces.”
