MUSKEGON TWP. - The Reeths-Puffer soccer team’s hot start to the season continued on Friday – but just barely.
The difference in the tightly-contested game boiled down to two shots, one by each team.
R-P’s key shot came from senior Cohen Beck, who snagged a loose, bouncing ball just outside the East Grand Rapids box about midway through the first half and blasted it into the net.
That gave the Rockets a one-goal lead that withstood the test of time, but it nearly slipped away with about two minutes left in the game when an EGR player sent a high shot from close range at the R-P net.
R-P goalie Liam Copenhaver leaps to make a save. Photo/Jeremy Clark
R-P goalkeeper Liam Copenhaver leaped and tipped the ball over the net, clinching the Rockets’ narrow 1-0 victory over the Pioneers and keeping R-P’s momentum alive.
Reeths-Puffer is now 5-0-1 on the season, one win better than the 4-0-1 record it started with last season.
The Rockets have been dominant so far, outscoring their six opponents by a combined margin of 14-1. It was the third straight game that they only scored one goal, but that turned out to be enough in two of those games, while the third ended in a tie.
There could have easily been another tie for the Rockets on Friday, or worse. East Grand Rapids had a 6-3 edge in shots on goal in the first half and a 10-7 edge in the game.
R-P's Zach Sampson boots the ball up the field. Photo/Jeremy Clark
A tie could have easily come about a minute after Beck’s big goal, when an EGR shot hit the crossbar of the R-P goal but did not go in, bringing a sigh of relief from the Rockets and their fans.
The teams traded scoring opportunities in the second half, but nobody cashed in. The Pioneers turned up the offensive pressure in the latter minutes, but the Rockets held on.
The Pioneers had their best opportunity late in the game before Copenhaver leaped and saved the day. Copenhaver now has four shutouts this season, and played for the first half of a fifth one.
“That was really big,” the goalie said about his key save. "After that, my confidence just went up. It was just amazing being able to help the team hold on to the win.
Three players battle for the ball in the air. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“It was really tough, but we stayed together as a team and fought hard. I came in with the mindset that we were going to win, so it felt great to make that happen.”
Harrell knows how close his team came to losing the lead, and was impressed that his players fought and got the job done.
“They kind of took it to us the last 20 minutes of the game,” the coach said. “They also had a lot of good chances throughout the game.”
R-P's Andrew Eilers (4) kicks the ball away from an opponent. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The Rockets will try to keep their hot streak going on Monday when they host Jenison in the first O-K Green conference matchup of the season.
R-P and Jenison traded victories last year in their two games, and Harrell said his team has to be cautious about getting overconfident.
“They kicked our butts the second time,” the coach said about Jenison. “So I think there is no reason for us to get comfortable. I mean, we got enough guys who remember what it was like the last time we saw Jenison.”