Today was the tale of two halves. On a rainy Wednesday the SPS field hockey team traveled down to the Rivers School for a 4:15 pm game. Rivers scored 2.5 minutes into the game giving SPS a quick wake up call. The Big Red rallied with three corners but couldn't capitalize while Rivers had four corners and 2 more goals making it 3-0 Rivers at half. The second goal was a reverse lift from the stroke while the 3^rd was an end line run, and a low angle shot that snuck in the corner of the net.  Second half, SPS regrouped with a new line-up. With quicker starts, combination plays, and bigger hits, SPS rallied against the flat back defense of Rivers. Erin Flaherty had three 25-yard breakaways that generated some great unfinished scoring opportunities, while Gabby Smith showed some good heads up play generating offense. In the 3^rd quarter with 4:47 left, and a quick start Chelsea Bell sent a through ball to Flaherty who forced a Rivers foul.  Once again on the free hit, Bell found Flaherty up field in the circle, who tipped the ball to Liza Demain, who slapped the ball into the back of the net to make it, 3-1.  In the 4^th quarter Abby Hafer stepped up with authority to block a reverse sweep in front of goal. The Big Red defense outplayed Rivers in the second half holding them scoreless while freshman goalie, Julia Alessandro had five saves in net. Outstanding play from Bell, Abby Hafer, Thayer Demers, and Katie Kim. 
 
The Big Red are back on the road at NMH on Saturday, September 27^th at 4:00 pm.