The really big news is that the Reeths-Puffer girls soccer team scored a goal against Byron Center, the No. 1 ranked Division 1 team in the state.
That was something that had not been done all season.
Coming into Thursday’s game, the Bulldogs had a 6-0-1 record, and had not given up a single goal. The tie in their record was a 0-0 deadlock with Gull Lake.
Unfortunately the single goal was all the Rockets could manage and they fell 3-1 in the O-K Green conference matchup.
Jaslynn Kops
Reeths-Puffer is now 4-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in conference play. The Rockets are in the midst of a three-game winless streak, with a tie and two losses.
Thursday’s game was close and competitive most of the way.
Byron Center scored with about 16 minutes remaining in the first half and led 1-0 at halftime.
The Rockets broke through eight minutes into the second half when Ashlyn David stole the ball around midfield and got it to Jaslynn Kops, who scored on a breakaway.
Byron Center iced the win with a pair of goals in the final 18 minutes of the game.
Ashlyn David
R-P head coach Kody Harrell was impressed and encouraged by his team’s performance against an elite opponent.
“I could not be more proud of our girls,” he said. “This is championship behavior and championship attitudes. Coming off an emotional loss Tuesday night, and just two days later having to go on the road and play one of the best teams in the state, and we were right there with them.
“They have great confidence about themselves and even more importantly in one another. Super proud of them and super proud and honored to be their coach.”
The Rockets will be on the road next week with games at Jenison on Tuesday, Muskegon on Thursday and Zeeland West on Friday.