The Blue Devil bench exploded with excitement as senior Dan DeSousa found the back of the net to tie the North 2, Group 4 sectional quarterfinal game (1-1). This momentum-changing goal eventually helped Westfield defeat Irvington 2-1 in an exhilarating match.
The Blue Devils came out to a slow start after letting up a goal early on in the game. Senior co-captain Ethan Wade said, “We just can’t give up that early first-half goal. It’s happened in a couple [consecutive] games now and it just makes the game much harder when it doesn’t need to be. We have to fix that on defense.”
However, it was clear in the second half that the Blue Devils weren’t ready to end their season. Head coach Eric Shaw said, “Forty minutes left. They knew that we had 40 minutes left in their careers, especially the seniors. That was the message at halftime. We had 40 minutes to keep playing and fighting, trying to claw ourselves back in the game.”
This energy was also felt by the players. Wade said, “I feel like everyone really cared just as much as I did, and when you all care that much that means you really rise in the second half especially when you’re already down by a goal.”
DeSousa was the key to getting the Blue Devils back into the game. After his electrifying goal, the team continued his success when junior Sam Judka crossed the ball to senior Danny Gonzalez for another Westfield goal. This play helped to seal the game for Westfield.
As the team hopes to prolong their sectional tournament run, and then their group tournament run, it is clear that they must focus on limiting first half goals from their opponent.
“The last two matches we have given up early goals,” said Shaw. “The mindset has to be a little better and stronger early in the match in order to prevent those little opportunities, and we need to have more fight– like we had the last 40 minutes– earlier on in the match. It’s something we talk about, we just need to be better.”
Additionally, DeSousa said, “I think we need to have more energy in the first half and the whole game. If we bring the energy no team is going to be able to hang with us.”
With this win against Irvington, Westfield advances to the sectional semifinal round on Nov. 12 against Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth will have home-field advantage, the Blue Devils look to beat the Minutemen for the third time this season.
