After a quick Livingston goal that left Westfield down 0-1 early in the first period, Brody Esler saved the day by sniping the top corner of the net, resulting in a tie game. Despite a back-and-forth first period, the Blue Devils ran away with the game, beating Livingston 7-2.
The Blue Devils faced the Lancers just two games prior, ultimately ending in a Livingston victory. Westfield was handed their first loss of the season by Livingston which made this more than just a game, the Blue Devils had something to prove.
An early Livingston goal threw the Blue Devils off track however, “[The team] settled into the rhythm and got dialed in. We were really focusing on the game plan,” said junior goalkeeper Troy Conover.
Head coach Joe Bertucci said, “We had a slow start.” With the game being tied after the first period, the Blue Devils knew they needed to change something moving forward. Bertucci said, “The message [in the locker room] was to go out there and prove you’re a good team, you can’t have it given to you.”
The next two periods the Blue Devils proved who they were as a team. Esler went on to score a hat trick for the Blue Devils and got the offense going. Feeding off of his energy the team scored two more goals in the second period.
Esler said, “We needed to play more simply, we haven’t played like a team these past two games so I think teamwork was most important.”
The third period sealed the deal for the Blue Devils; they were creating ample opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net. Westfield went on to score four goals in the third period allowing only one Lancer goal in.
As the Blue Devils were up 5-1 early in the third period, Lancer fans began to leave, realizing the fate of the game. Westfield’s student section stayed put, cheering on the Blue Devils during an exciting revenge game. “The students are a huge help, having them cheer us on every goal, every save, it’s a major factor contributing to our success and we love it every time,” Conover said.
Despite the Blue Devils offense being on fire the defense played an equally notable game. Conover tallied 28 impressive saves that took place during crucial moments of the game. If it weren’t for the defensive line and goalkeeper and their critical communication, the game could have ended differently.
The Blue Devils will face off away against Cranford for the second time this season on Jan. 6 at 6:35 pm. The group looks to come out on top again after their 7-3 win against them earlier in the season.
