It felt like summer afternoon as the Big Red hosted Deerfield Academy on Hunt Field.  The contest began slowly as both teams felt each other out and probed to find weaknesses in their opponent.  Possession proved to be a challenge for both sides as they struggled to connect consistently in their passing.  SPS's best early chance came from a solid header by centerback AJ Zoltowski that went inches over the bar.  At the other end of the pitch, keeper Hunter Morton was forced to make several low ball and in tights saves, as well as handle crosses with confidence, to provide a clean sheet for the first half.  Forty- five minutes would end with the score nil – nil.

The Green Doors came out on the front foot in the second half and began to get more balls in the box and pressure the SPS back line.  A mis clearance by the Big Red 10 minutes into the half, combined with some clever dribbling by the Deerfield striker, broke the tie and put Deerfield in the lead.  The next twenty minutes saw much of the play in the middle third of the field with neither team taking over the match.  SPS's next quality chance came from another header, this one by co-captain Henry Wilson as he made great contact on a Zoltowski serve from the flank that just missed.  With but fourteen minutes to play, Deerfield did their own damage as they made it 2 – 0 off a corner with a header of their own that was powerfully struck just under the crossbar.  The body language of the SPS squad did not bode well as their confidence seemed to lessen with little time to rally.  Deerfield put the proverbial "nail in the coffin" when they scored their final tally with five minutes to play in the contest.  

The game left the young SPS squad with more questions than answers.  The good news is that they can work together to find those answers soon as the squad hosts the St. Sebastian's School on Monday.

Go Big Red!