MUSKEGON TWP. - The Reeths-Puffer girls soccer team finally got that elusive victory over a really good team.
The Rockets came close to doing that several times earlier in the season, falling by one goal to quality opponents with winning records, like Grand Haven, Caledonia, Mona Shores and South Haven.
A second loss to Mona Shores, earlier this week, was by a tight 2-0 score.
But the Rockets put that all behind them on Saturday, going on a scoring spree in the first 10 minutes of the second half and beating a very good Fruitport squad 3-1 at R-P's Eric Marcil Field.
Fruitport, the O-K Silver conference leader, is now 10-5 overall on the season. Reeths-Puffer improved to 4-12.
R-P's Abby Hill (7) watches her shot go in the Fruitport goal. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The two teams could meet again in a few weeks in Division 2 districts.
"It was a rivalry win, too," said R-P head coach Kody Harrell. "We were talking about how we're beating teams recently that we know we can get results against, but losing to teams that we know we have to roll our sleeves up and do some work against.
"That little bit of extra effort was needed, and today we got it. We came out on top in a lot of those important moments."
The first half of the game was scoreless, with each team managing two shots on goal.
The Rockets came very close to taking a lead about nine minutes into the game when a shot hit the crossbar of the Fruitport goal and bounded away.
R-P's Mallorie Messer keeps the ball away from a Trojan. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The second half was all Reeths-Puffer, however.
Abby Hill broke the deadlock with a goal not quite two minutes into the half. She took a crossing pass and had the ball to the right of the Fruitport goal, and whiffed on her first shot.
No defender was there to steal the ball away, however, so Hill shot again and found the mark on her second try, giving R-P a 1-0 lead.
"I was like, oh my gosh, it was so embarrassing, but the ball was still there and I got a second chance," Hill said. "I just thought, lower my body and hit it as hard as I can."
It was a very nice moment for Hill, who went down with a scary looking injury in the first half, but bounced right back to give her team the lead for good.
R-P's LolaJayne Sapone (20) battles for the bouncing ball. Photo/Jeremy Clark
"After watching her go down with a scary knee injury, then to have her come back and break the scoreless tie, was kind of full circle for us," Coach Harrell said. "It was very nice to see her come back. There was a moment when I thought she was not going to be able to come back today."
The Rocket uprising continued about seven minutes later when R-P's Jaslynn Kops got the ball about 15 yards from the Trojan goal and lofted a high shot over the head of the goalie, who had come out to challenge the play.
R-P made it 3-0 about a minute later when Mallorie Messer broke in alone and scored.
Fruitport kept battling and got on the scoreboard with about 16 minutes left when Ava VanVeelen found the net.
The Trojans had a few more chances in the waning minutes, but could get no closer.
R-P's Hanna Potts (10) uses her head to move the ball. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Reeths-Puffer had an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal, including a 6-3 edge in the second half.
R-P goalie Sara Carlson performed well in net, stopping several shots that could have changed the trajectory of the game.
While the Rockets only have four wins on the season, they are 3-3 in their last six games, and are feeling more confident as the season starts to wind down, according to Harrell.
"We're feeling really good," Harrell said. "I know it sounds weird to say we feel good at 4-12, but with who we've played and the things we've learned, as long as we keep a positive mindset, we will do well, and we're fortunate to have a group of intelligent, big-picture kids who are still playing hard.
"We've been playing some really good teams, and hopefully that's setting us up for a nice little run later in May."