As the overtime clock ticked and the crowd held its breath, the fate of the game rested on a single possession. Seconds were quickly dwindling down before sophomore Patrick Smith fired the ball into the back of the net. The WHS boys lacrosse team defeated Bridgewater-Raritan in the Group 4 State Sectional Semifinal 11-10 in overtime with an electrifying game winning goal.
Westfield came out strong early, but Bridgewater-Raritan responded each time the Blue Devils started to pull away. After the Blue Devils built momentum in the first half, the Panthers came out in the second half with three consecutive goals, quickly shifting the energy of the game for both teams. The run forced Westfield to regroup and battle back, which set the stage for a tense back and forth contest.
While the whistle blew for overtime and the game turned into sudden death, a single mistake could end the season for the boys lacrosse team. Westfield won the initial face off, but the Panthers got the ball back within one minute. It was up to the defense to stay focused and not let anything in. Junior defenseman Jack Schwarzenbek said, “Even when we were down at one point and they were up, we knew we were supposed to be here and we just had to keep pushing.”
“At the end of the day we just wanted to score more than them,” said head coach William Wertheimer. Wertheimer noted that Westfield’s success came from contributions across the roster rather than just from one player. “I think that we spread the wealth; a lot of different guys scored,” he said. That balanced attack helped the Blue Devils stay competitive throughout the game.
Smith played a huge role in Westfield’s victory, delivering the biggest moment of the game when his overtime shot found the back of the net. Throughout the game, Smith was a steady contributor on offense, helping to create scoring opportunities while keeping pressure on the Panthers defense. “We came into the game being patient and to just play our game, not to get rushed,” he said.
As the season continues, the Blue Devils will continue to build on this momentum which demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure. Westfield’s victory was fueled not only by Smith’s overtime heroics, but also by a complete team effort on both ends of the field.
The Blue Devils will head off to compete in the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 4 Sectional Final at Kehler on June 9 against Ridgewood at 4:30 p.m.
