MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Senior River Schiff (Potomac, Md.) scored a pair of goals to guide Wellesley College field hockey to a 2-1 victory in the team's season opener at Rhodes College on Saturday. The Blue (1-0) have now begun each of the last 15 seasons with a win.

Saturday marked the first career multi-goal performance for Schiff. First year Hannah Simmonds (Austin, Texas) saved three shots for Wellesley. 

Senior Grace Utz (Oklahoma City, Okla.) scored the lone goal for the Lynx (0-1). Classmate Claudia Gluodenis (Landenberg, Pa.) stopped five shots for Rhodes.

Rhodes earned a penalty stroke at the 7:09 mark in the first quarter. Utz capitalized on the opportunity, putting the Lynx up 1-0.

Schiff evened the game at 1-1 four minutes later with a 12th career goal. The score remained knotted at 1-1 through the end of the first half.

4:05 into the third quarter, Schiff found the back of the cage for the second time to put Wellesley up 2-1. Two goals was all the Blue needed as the team limited Rhodes to four second half shots.

Wellesley outshot Rhodes 16-10. The Blue took nine penalty corners while the Lynx had eight. 

The Blue will return to Butler Stadium on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:00 PM against Tufts University. Rhodes travels to Transylvania University on Saturday, September 7.