Liam Smith (15) put up impressive numbers for the Reeths-Puffer Rocket soccer team.
(Photo by Joe Lane)
By Ron Rop
LocalSportsJournal.com
In the Reeths-Puffer Rocket boys' soccer record book, you'll find the name Liam Smith just about everywhere.
Career goals ... season goals ... season assists ... career assists ... fastest goal from start of game.
Those accomplishments earned the Rocket senior forward not only first-team all-state honors in Division 1, but he also was named to the Dream Team, which honors the best players regardless of class.
The all-state teams are courtesy of the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.
"Liam means everything to this program," said Rocket coach Kody Harrell.
"Guys coming through the program will remember his name for a long time and his name will create inspiration for other players to keep this program competitive and use the platform that Liam helped build, accordingly."
Smith finished his career with a record 98 goals, including 37 (another record) this past season. His 15 assists this past season broke the mark of 13. He finished his career with a record 38 assists. His five goals in a single game tied the record set by Nate Schmitt back in 2008.
He also scored a goal just 9 seconds into a game, which is another record.
"Liam was part of many great memories at Reeths-Puffer," Harrell said.
"I, and the rest of the program and community, will thank him for putting the program on the state map. Reeths-Puffer, I feel, has been one of the stronger soccer programs in the Muskegon area for as long as I can remember."
And it wasn't just the gaudy numbers that he put up that set him apart from others.
"Liam was always a great teammate," Harrell said.
"He'd get just as excited when his teammates scored as if he scored. Those are little things that I always just sat back and observed. It's what I appreciated about Liam."
Smith signed a national letter of intent to continue his education and soccer career at Western Michigan University.
The Rockets finished the season with a 16-5-1 record for the second-best winning percentage in school history. The 2005 team finished 16-4.
LOCAL ALL-STATERS IN DIVISION 1, 2
DIVISION 1
First team
Liam Smith, Reeths-Puffer, Sr., forward
Third team
Cade Larose, Grand Haven, Sr., forward
Easton Lopez, Mona Shores, Sr., midfielder
DIVISION 2
Second team
Brady Brown, Fruitport, Sr. defender
Third team
Logan Werschem, Fruitport, Jr., goalkeeper
Honorable mention
Jorge Burgos-Yack, Fruitport, Soph., forward
Parker Wendt, Ludington, Sr., forward
Spencer Holmes, Ludington, Sr., forward
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