The Reeths-Puffer boys soccer team gave up early goals in both the first and second half on Thursday, and ended up falling to powerful Byron Center 3-0 in an O-K Green conference game.
Byron Center, ranked ninth in the state in Division 1, took control by scoring less than two minutes into the game, and less than 30 seconds into the second half.
The Rockets, who have been struggling offensively, failed to score for the fourth time in the last six games.
Trent Plummer
Reeths-Puffer is now 7-3-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference standings. Byron Center improved to 10-2-1 and 4-0-1.
R-P head coach Kody Harrell said his team started to put together a decent attack during a 15-20 minute period in the second half.
“We were just really proud of how the boys woke up and competed and played a very high level game with solid passing against a great opponent,” the coach said. “We respected them for sure, but not to the point where we had no confidence. We woke up and made a quality game of it.
Kaden Vanderlaan
“We just got bit on two silly mistakes, but teams of this quality capitalize 100 percent on silly mistakes.”
Harrell credited Trent Plummer and Kaden Vanderlaan for strong defensive play.
The Rockets will host Fruitport on Saturday at 11:45 a.m.