Since pouring in 17 goals over its first three games – all victories – the Reeths-Puffer girls soccer team has run into opponents that don’t give up many goals at all, and it’s made a difference.
The Rockets were shut out for the second straight game on Monday night, falling 1-0 to a very good Grandville squad in a non-conference matchup on the road. They are now 3-2 on the season.
Grandville, now 4-1, has only allowed a total of two goals in three of its victories so far this season.
The Rockets had a similar experience on Friday, when they lost 2-0 to Cedar Springs, which is 5-0 and has not allowed any goals this season.
R-P goalie Gracie Callender, who stopped 8 of 9 shots.
Monday’s game was tight from start to finish, with each team having chances to score. Grandville had a 9-8 advantage in shots on goal.
The Bulldogs scored the only goal of the game about 12 minutes into the first half.
The Rockets had a number of good chances to tie the game in the final 15 minutes, but couldn’t get anything to go in the net.
Ashley Bradley, Wren Tryska, Lola Sapone, Payton Ohs and Kate Tindall led the defensive effort that limited Grandville to one goal.
Freshman goalie Ava Callender was strong in net, stopping eight shots.
“Our girls did an amazing job adjusting in the second half and played extremely well in the last 15 minutes of the game,” said R-P head coach Kody Harrell.
“I told the girls that tonight was a championship-worthy effort, and our defense was about where we would need it to be for districts.
“We are just that little bit of detail away from capitalizing (on offense). We need to do a better job of getting our heads up around the goal box and making the game easier on ourselves.”
The Rockets will be off until April 14, when they will open O-K Green conference play at home against Muskegon.