Westfield vs. Ridgewood always proves to be a fierce, competitive game, and this game proved that true. The Blue Devils came in hot off a four-game win streak, having beaten the previous No. 1 team in the state, Chatham, and now facing the new No. 1 team in the state, Ridgewood. The game was a back-and-forth battle that lived up to the hype and was capped off with an overtime winner by sophomore Kate Cymbor, propelling the Blue Devils to a 10-9 victory.
From the first whistle, both teams showed why they stood as top competitors in the state. Senior tri-captain Gilli Cohen helped the team out, stepping up when it mattered most and scoring three goals on the day.
Westfield’s ability to adjust on the fly, despite adversity proved critical. Cohen said, “I’d say something we did well was learning from our mistakes on defense. After each goal, we collected ourselves and we came up with a new plan, and I think it worked well.” This resilience that the girls embodied allowed them to stay focused despite facing deficits numerous times in the game.
Sophomore Lorelei McGorty stepped up for the Blue Devils and delivered a strike past the goalie to put the Blue Devils up 5-4 going into halftime.
As the second half began, much of the same happened. Each team grinded it out, trading goals and showcasing their talents. Head coach Katie DaSilva described the environment, saying, “It was a good game on both sides, when talent and talent get together, this is what you get.”
As the game wound down, the Blue Devils trailed 8-9. They needed someone to step up, and that’s exactly what Cymbor did. Cymbor tied the game with three minutes left in the fourth, shifting the momentum back into the Blue Devils’ hands. The final seconds of regulation, though, were chaotic. Freshman Mia Calderon Brown made a crucial save to keep the game tied and send it into overtime.
A five minute overtime began with the first goal ending the game. Westfield knew they had to gain possession and score. Cymbor quickly responded by scoring the game-winning goal, securing the upset and triggering celebrations on the Westfield sideline.
Cymbor emphasized the team’s togetherness as a key factor in the win. “I thought we played really well as a team, we worked a lot at practice going into this game, and I thought we worked super well on offense and defense together,” she said. “Now we have that momentum going into our next games and into the county tournament, too.”
The Blue Devils will look to keep their winning streak as they play again on April 25 against Ward Melville at 5 p.m.
