Today was the JV Rhino's first home game of the season facing off against a perennially strong Berkshire squad. Taft came out of the gate quickly with a crossing goal by Perry Allen from a crisp pass off Maddy Meister's stick at 21:00. This goal was followed at 18:23 with a tip-in by Anna Wice from a center shot made by Callia Ferraris. Berkshire did not allow this early two-goal lead to go unanswered scoring at 14:38 off a corner. Play during the first-half was centered primarily in the Taft offensive end with the Rhinos working hard to build momentum. Julia Kunzelmann and Eva Witkowski worked as an effective forward-middie team to advance the ball into the scoring zone. With just one corner awarded in the first half, the Rhinos needed these scoring opportunities. At 8:23 Kunzelmann received the ball up the left side from a series of passes through Brooke Marx, Witkowski and Wice then weaved her way through two Berkshire defenders to score Taft's third goal of the day. Just moments later, Martha Lohuis back-tackled the ball off the pass-back and worked her through the midfield to pass the ball to Perry Allen who tallied her second of the game. With a 4-1 lead headed into halftime, the Rhinos had a margin to work with but knew they Berkshire team would not go quietly into defeat. And, their predictions became realities as the Bears battled back scoring goals at the 19:14 mark off a corner and then again at 7:54 off a fast-break, with Berkshire building momentum with each goal. Taft, however, would not relent and the determination of midfielders Andie Wardell, Callia Ferraris, Maddy Meister, and Sadie Pollack did all they could to slow the Bears offense. This was aided by the offense generated by Abby Hawkins and Lulu Brauer during the final ten minutes of the game. Ultimately, the final score of 4-4 came down to scoring opportunities off of corners. Taft was unable to convert on any of their four precious corners in the second half and, conversely, Berkshire put the tying goal in the net off a corner in the final minute of the game. While it was disappointing to see a three-goal lead disintegrate, the Rhinos are determined to use this experience as a mid-season turning point to stay focused for the juggernaut of games yet to come, including traveling to Choate this Saturday. Go Big Red!