LAST YEAR: The Rockets had a very good season, going 16-6-3 overall. They were 5-4-1 in the challenging O-K Green conference and finished tied for third place. In the postseason, R-P advanced to the Division 2 district finals before falling to Cedar Springs 1-0.
RETURNING STARTERS: The Rockets only have three returning starters from last year’s squad – senior attacking midfielder London Carpenter, senior midfield defender Landon Nash, and junior defender Andrew Eilers.
Carpenter seems primed to have a big offensive year after scoring seven goals last season, despite missing significant time due to illness. Nash will be a key part of the lineup as soon as he overcomes a preseason ankle injury, and Eilers, the team captain, is a third-year varsity player who will anchor the defense.
OTHER KEY RETURNERS: Two players who did not start last year will play very key roles for the Rockets this season.
The first is junior Evan McHugh, who is good at several different positions and moved around last year as R-P’s top utility player. He’s a great athlete who will focus on being a striker this year and should one one of the team’s top scorers, but will also drop back and play lockdown defense when necessary.
The new starting goalie is sophomore Evan McCollom, who was called up to varsity in districts last year and was pressed into duty in the championship game, following an injury to the starter. He played great and kept the Rockets in the contest the entire way. He is a little taller this year, a little more athletic, and brings a lot of passion and energy to the team.
SOME OTHER KEY GUYS IN THE LINEUP: The Rockets will have a lot of new starters and role players, and a few seem ready to step up and play big roles for the team right away.
One is freshman forward Kam David, who is expected to step right in and provide some scoring punch. He is a gifted athlete who also plays basketball, and recently took a year off from soccer, but already has a lot of offensive skill as well as the passion to succeed.
Others who should play big roles from the get-to include junior midfielders Chase Hoeft, Matthew Hansen, Landon Damm, Connor Simerick and sophomore defender Jax Sieplinga.
THE REST OF THE OPENING NIGHT ROSTER: Caden Macomber, Owen Schrumpf, Camden Beck, Knox Estepp, Connor Eastwold, Antonio Nelson-Lee, Leyton Gargus, Hunter Marvin, Cooper Ross, Aaron Perez, Ben Clark, Tristan Smith, Rylie Burmeister, Oliver Hunt, Brennan Allen, AJ Jackson.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The R-P roster is top-heavy with 16 juniors, plus three sophomores and two freshman. There are only six seniors on the squad, meaning the Rockets will be competing this year while building toward next season.
FIRST GAME: Wednesday night at home against Coopersville.
COACH COMMENT: “We will be a young group as far as experience goes, but we still have talent, still have athleticism, and I think it will still be a classic R-P team that has good speed on both ends of the field, has a strong work ethic and grit about our play, along with some solid skill players and high level ball movement. We’re excited to see who rises to the occasion and steps up this year.” – Kody Harrell
