The energy was high and the crowd was ready for what was expected to be an exciting game against Kent Place for Westfield’s Senior Day, and while Westfield put up a strong fight, they fell short of that expectation.
The evening began with a packed crowd as parents fled the stands to give a send-off to their eight seniors on the field. The ceremony highlighted each player and their favorite memory from being on the team. They were photographed with their parents while garnished in a crown and sash.
Following the ceremony, after all pictures were in order, the Blue Devils were ready for gameplay. The first quarter began with high energy and cheers from the crowd. Yet, from the first draw, it was clear that it was going to be a long and tiring game for Westfield. In only seven minutes, Kent Place gained a 3-0 lead.
With a change in players following a time out, Westfield was looking for a spark. Strong defense from seniors Sara Rooney and Adrian Fleming stopped Kent Place from getting to the goal, leaving only two minutes left in the first quarter. Despite Westfield’s tough defense, Kent Place was still able to dominate by using quick passes and hard drives to goal, ending the first quarter with a leading score, 6-0.
Playing without two valuable players, Sofia Della Rocco, who is out for the season, and Erin Hazard, who was out for this game, it became a challenge for the team to get over this hurdle. Senior captain Kate Watson said, “Honestly, I think losing them both is more of a mental aspect rather than a physical aspect. Yes, there are two valuable players, but also we have so much depth on this team. I think it definitely affects us mentally rather than physically”.
The second quarter posed some hope for the Blue Devils as they had more shots on goal and spent more time on offense. Sophomore Alice Manzo and junior Emma Blake charged up the field, giving Westfield hope for a goal. This hope was short-lived as Kent Place’s defense was able to predict Westfield’s passes and drives to goal. The Dragons’ ability to find breakaways and corners of Westfield’s goal ultimately gave them five more points, making the score 9-0. In the final seconds of the quarter, senior captain Lucy Mineo had a shot on goal that just missed the net, giving Westfield a glimpse of opportunity for the second half of the game.
Although Westfield did not put multiple points on the board, the defense from the Blue Devils was able to stop Kent Place for most of the third and fourth quarter, allowing them to score a slight five goals. This allowed Westfield’s offense to shine later in the game when they got their first goal, scored by Watson. This made the final score, 14-1.
The loss was tough for everyone involved. Not only did this game mark the end of Westfield’s two-game win streak, but it also left a scar on the precious memory of Senior Day. “It was a series of unfortunate events,” said head coach Katie DaSilva. Watson added, “I think it’s just keeping our heads up with pride…but we can’t focus on it too much. We can focus on it for today but then we have to move on.”
Westfield plans to redeem themselves on Saturday when they will travel to face Glen Ridge at 10 a.m..
