SPS made the short trip north to visit the Huskies of New Hampton.  The Big Red got off to a solid start possessing the ball and pushing hard on the flanks.  Their hard work paid off just 7 minutes in as Gavin Nestler '25 hit a hard low ball at an off ang that the New Hampton keeper had a hard time holding and Charlie Hepp '25 took advantage of the miscue and tapped the loose ball into the net.  SPS carried most of the play for the first thirty-five minutes yet struggled to get quality strikes on frame.  The Huskies got their best chance with ten to play in the half on a clever free kick creating a partial breakaway.  Big Red keeper Leo Colinet '27 was very quick off his line and made a super save to protect the one goal lead.  Over the final few minutes, New Hampton got behind the SPS defense, but the crosses were cleared, and the visitors went into the half up by 1.
 
The second half began the same as the first with St. Paul's having the territorial advantage and pushing wide into the final third.  A nifty combination between play Will Iller '26, Alexander de Burgh Codrington '28 and Blake Truchon '26 saw the ball go inches wide of the post.  The danger of throwing numbers into the attack is that one can be susceptible to the counter.  This was the case 15 minutes into the half as New Hampton took advantage of a through ball from 40 yds out that eliminated three backs and sent their striker in alone and he deftly finished to make it 1 – 1.  SPS did not give up and continued to push forward to the end.  Earning several corners in the final minutes saw more chances go wide, over the bar or into the keepers hands. One last corner with seconds to play was partially cleared by the New Hampton and then played quickly into de Burgh Codrington who calmed pulled the ball back and around the keeper only to have his shot cleared off the line by an attentive Huskie full back – and then the final whistle blew.  A solid effort on the part of both sides.
 
The Big Red hosts the other big red of Phillips Exeter on Saturday at 3:00.  Would love to have you join us at Hunt Field.
Go SPS!