MUSKEGON TWP. – The Reeths-Puffer boys soccer team has a ton of players with little or no prior varsity experience, and for most teams that might spell trouble, particularly in a pressure-filled rivalry game.

But so far a lot of the R-P youngsters have performed very well, and it happened again on Tuesday night

Sophomore goalkeeper Evan McCollum – whose only previous varsity experience before this season came in one district game last fall – stole the spotlight in a huge matchup against archrival Mona Shores on a hot and humid night.

McCollum stopped all 13 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the season and allow the Rockets to escape with a very tight and exciting 1-0 victory.

Reeths-Puffer’s Kam David (9), Knox Estepp (4) and Evan McHugh (20) celebrate following David’s goal, the only score of the game. Photo/Daniel Dunn

His strong play was extremely important, because R-P mustered very little offense and was outshot 13-3. That didn’t phase McCollum one bit as he remained calm and led his squad to victory.

“It feels nice and I am glad that it happened,” McCollum said about his performance. “There were a couple moments when I got a little nervous, bit my lips a little bit, but at the end of the day we got a shutout and the team played amazing.”

R-P head coach Kody Harrell said he was never nervous about how his young goalie was going to hold up under the heat and pressure.

“He was easily the man of the match, and I was never nervous, which is no shade on our opponent,” Harrell said. “I have all the faith in him, and he is going to do very big things for us in the future.

“He treats it like a craft and puts in so many hours at goalie camps outside of the season.”

David battles an opponent for the ball. Photo/Daniel Dunn

The victory continued a very impressive trend for the Rockets, who have now defeated Mona Shores seven straight times, going back to 2023.

Harrell was surprised to hear the streak had gotten that long, and he was extra pleased to know his very young squad managed to keep it going.

“I didn’t realize that – I am surprised in a good way,” said Harrell, whose team is now 2-2-1 on the season. “I am proud of my boys. I am proud of the culture and the tradition of our program, and how these guys are keeping the tradition going while still earning their stripes.

“It’s a unique situation, because we are trying to win games while building for something bigger (in the future), because of how much youth we have on the team.”

R-P’s Chase Hoeft maintains control of the ball. Photo/Daniel Dunn

It looked like the Sailors were going to open the scoring in the 33^rd minute of the first half, when they caught McCullum a little off guard.

A shot came toward the right side of the R-P net, McCollum was on the left, and it could have been an easy goal. But R-P junior defender Evan McHugh was at the right spot to stop the shot with his chest and keep the contest deadlocked at 0-0.

“He (McHugh) plays everywhere because he can do just about anything,” Harrell said. “He is one of the best athletes on the field, and that opportunity was the Sailors’ best chance. It was the difference between a win and a tie.”

The lone score of the game came from R-P freshman Kam David, who turned a lot of heads recently by scoring twice in the season-opening game against Coopersville.

Estepp tries to maintain his balance over a fallen opponent. Photo/Daniel Dunn

David was in front of the goal when the ball made its way to him, and he tipped it into the net with five minutes left in the first half.

It was the third and final shot of the game for Reeths-Puffer, with more than a half still to play. But the Rockets kept their heads and protected their lead the rest of the way.

“I think our boys were kind of in their own heads tonight, with another rivalry game going on tomorrow,” said Harrell, referring to the Rockets’ road game at Fruitport on Wednesday.

“I have 15 new players with no varsity experience, and so we are just battling, and I feel it is going to take a while to catch our rhythm. But I think the boys did a good job of managing their emotions tonight.”