MICHIGAN GIRLS SOCCER: Mona Shores bounces back by rallying past Reeths-Puffer; Western Michigan Christian blanks rival North Muskegon
- Dan Stickradt
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
MUSKEGON, Mich. – What better way to bounce back from a loss than to face a neighboring rival in the next game.
Muskegon Mona Shores bounced back to its winning ways with a 2-1 Ottawa Kent Conference-Green Division victory over rival Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.
“We lost to Byron Center a couple of days earlier and they are a very good team that was moved into our league,” said Dylan Darga, Mona Shores’ veteran coach. “Thye were a better team and they simply beat us. They are an older team. But we went back to work the next day and came out and played one of our rivals in a very good game and we found a way to bounce back.”
Sophomore Jaslynn Koss put Reeths-Puffer up 1-0 at the mid-point of the first half. The Rockets held the lead into the second half but could not stave off a Mona Shores comeback.
Mona Shores came out of halftime more energized and scored the equalizer in the first two minutes of the second half. Katie Phillips tied the game in the 42nd minute off an assist from Kendall Berghuis.
In the 62nd minute, Ava Freye scored the eventual game-winner off a pass from Phillips for Mona Shores (4-2-0, 1-1-0).
The Sailors picked up fine defensive play from Braylin Meyers, Harper Robinson, Addison Fisher and Ella Kinney, who collectively shut down the Rockets for the final 60 minutes after conceding the first-half goal.
Mona Shores’ two losses are against bonafide state title contenders, losing to Division 2 top-ranked Hudsonville Unity Christian 4-0 in the season opener and then again to Division 1 state-ranked Byron Center. The loss to Byron Center – last year’s OKC White Division co-champion – was Mona Shores’ first league defeat since April 16, 2016, as the Sailors had won eight straight OKC-Green crowns (no season was contested in 2020).
The Sailors own wins over Holland West Ottawa (4-0), Grandville (2-0), Fruitport (5-0) and now Reeths-Puffer, with the goal conceded to Reeths-Puffer the first goal allowed during a Mona Shores win. Overall, the Sailors own a 14-11 scoring edge this season.
“We have a solid core of players back but we also have some new starters and girls on the varsity for the first time. It will take some time,” said Darga. “I am pleased with how we played in this game overall. We went down 1-0 but found a way to keep working and tie it up, and then eventually go up 2-1. Our defense played very good in the second half. Even though Puffer is a young team, they do have some nice players. This was a good test for us.”
MUSKEGON WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN 2, NORTH MUSKLEGON 0: These two Division 4 powerhouse schools squared off in a battle of state-ranked teams in North Muskegon.
This time the rivalry meeting went the Warriors’ way.
Nora Pollock scored what proved to be the game-winner in the eighth minute when the Grace College signee corralled a pass from Maria Eenigenburg and fired home her shot for the 1-0 advantage.
Gilly Anne Beckley capped the scoring in the 61st minute when she drilled a free kick from outside the box into the upper 90.
Elaina Clapp recorded four saves in goal for Western Michigan Christian (2-2-0). The Warriors outshot North Muskegon 14-9 overall and 10-4 with shots on goal.
Kendal Hibbard recorded eight saves for North Muskegon (3-3-0).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the National Soccer Network regarding club/youth soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with ties to a particular state or states, contact Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and news@nationalsoccernetwork.com, or call 248-525-2349.
PREMIER MEDIA GROUP / NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK /
NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561215500230
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / National Soccer Network
