Reeths-Puffer blanks Ludington, advances to take on top-ranked Spring Lake for district title

LocalSportsJournal.com

FRUITPORT — Reeths-Puffer dominated the girls soccer district semifinal with Ludington on Tuesday, posting a 5-0 win to advance to the Division 2 district finals.

The game was played at Fruitport.

In the process, Sophia Hekkema broke the Puffer single-season scoring record with two goals that brought her season total to 23. She also had an assist.

“They’re a big, strong team,” Ludington coach Kris Anderson said. “They took shots from outside the 18-yard box. They were just a difficult match-up for us across the board.”

Photo/Leo Valdez

Taeah Rensberger opened the scoring for the Rockets, with an assist credited to Billie Tryska just 24 seconds into the first half and the Rockets were off.

Hekkema knocked in two goals about 10 minutes apart, both of them assisted by Alyssa Herbert and the Rockets mounted a 3-0 lead at the half.

Tryska tallied the fourth Rocket goal with Hekkema recording the assist, while Brooke Bradly scored an unassisted goal to close out the scoring.

Puffer had a whopping 33-4 advantage in shots on goal and had seven corner kicks to just two for the Orioles.

Cambria Britton started in net for the Orioles and finished the game with 28 saves.

“We saw a lot of growth,” said Anderson. “The amount of soccer that our girls had played coming into this year didn’t really prepare them for a game like tonight against a Reeths-Puffer team who hits the ball well.

“They use their bodies well, are very physical they establish space to win balls with their size.”

Ludington ended the season with a 7-12-2 record.

Reeths-Puffer faces Spring Lake at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fruitport.