ZEELAND — The Reeths-Puffer girls soccer team has yet to lose a conference game in the O-K Green this year, but in soccer, ties can be a problem, too.
The Rockets, who started the day tied with Mona Shores atop the conference standings at 4-0-1, had to settle for a 1-1 tie on the road against Zeeland East on Thursday.
With Mona Shores winning Thursday, the Sailors now have an edge in the standings.
Although the tie was disappointing, the Rockets are still focusing on big goals. Even if they finish second in the standings, a conference tournament championship could lead to a piece of the overall league title.
Reeths-Puffer's Maddilynn Dyer works against a Zeeland East defender. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
And regardless of how the conference turns out, the team is doing great with a big group of girls who are playing their first year of varsity soccer. The Rockets are now 5-4-2 overall on the season.
Still, R-P Coach Kody Harrell was not happy with the deadlock against Zeeland East, a team with a definite knack for ties, as evidenced by its 4-2-3 overall record and a 3-1-2 conference mark.
“A tie feels like a loss because of where we’re at versus where they’re at,” R-P head coach Kody Harrell said. “There definitely were some things that we normally do really well that we didn’t do as well tonight against a team we know we can get a good result against.
“We still have everything to play for, that’s the positive part. There’s a good chance we see this team again.”
Harrell wasn’t thrilled with some of the physicality allowed by the refs and some foul calls made during the game, but said the Rockets will have to learn to play through some of those issues.
Reese Tryska lines up a corner kick for Reeths-Puffer. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
“We don’t coach the girls the way he was calling it,” Harrell said, referring to the officiating. “(Zeeland East) did a good job of mucking it up, being physical, making it hectic. That rattled us. That’s something we’ve got to grow from, too, to battle that adversity a bit when things aren’t going according to plan.”
While the offense didn’t make a lot of noise in the game, R-P continued to excel on the defensive end, as the numbers indicate.
After an 0-3 start, Reeths-Puffer is now 5-1-2 in its last eight games. Over those eight contests, the Rockets have allowed just five goals. In addition to goalkeepers Sara Carlson and Brenna Ackerman, Harrell credits the starting back line.
“I truly believe we have two All-State defenders,” he said, referring to Mallorie Messer and Gracie Callender. “Those two have been amazing back there. Grace Goodell, she’s also been very, very good. Those three starters in the back line have been amazing with their tenacity. They’re go-getters. They get after it.”
Reeths-Puffer's Alyssa Herbert works through the defense. Photo/Mitchell Boatman
The Rockets scored first on a free kick goal by Irelyn Niklasch with 4:31 left in the first half. R-P held a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Zeeland East evened the score at 1-1 on a goal by Hannah Lewis with 25:42 left in the game. Both teams had opportunities the rest of the way, but neither found the back of the net.
Reeths-Puffer outshot Zeeland East 17-8. Carlson and Ackerman both made four saves, with Carlson playing the first half and Ackerman the second.