On Nov. 4, the girls field hockey team wrapped up their hard-fought 2025 season after losing to Hillsborough in the first round of the state tournament. Westfield ended their season with an 8-10-2 record, encapsulating a season of high and low moments.
The girls field hockey team’s starting lineup consisted almost entirely of seniors, placing lots of pressure on the team’s leaders. Not only did the girls have to be role models off the field, but they also had to be the primary example for the rest of the team on the field.
The team was led by senior tri-captains Riley Carr, Chloe Martin and Kayla Reyes, while being coached by head coach Corrine Varhley and assistant coach Kathryn Dasilva. Westfield’s season began on Sept. 3, losing to Livingston 2-1. Carr believed that at the start of the season, they were still attempting to navigate the team’s dynamics and communication. By the end of the season, they were a completely different team. “We played with confidence, strong communication and a level of play that comes from months of working hard together,” said Carr.
Senior Maren Restivo agreed, “At the beginning of the year, as we were still figuring a lot of things out, we kept losing game after game by one goal. As we went on, we were beating teams by three or four goals at times, which felt great.”
Despite a couple of difficult defeats, the Blue Devils always remained optimistic. One way they did this was by designating the “Top Chef” award to one player per game. No matter the outcome, this gave the Blue Devils something to individually strive for in each game, adding another layer of determination to the team’s engine.
The Blue Devils entered their first round of the state tournament ready to compete and seek revenge. Last year, the girls field hockey team suffered a tough loss to Hillsborough, and this year, they were determined to change the narrative when they faced them again. Against the odds, Restivo buried the first goal of the game, putting the Blue Devils up 1-0. Exiting halftime, Westfield’s lead gave them momentum, but not quite enough. After conceding two heartbreaking goals in the second half, the Blue Devils’ season came to an end.
Despite the loss, Martin was aware of their history with playing Hillsborough and is proud of how the team played, regardless of the final score. “We played our hearts out and left it all out on the field, which is how it ended up a very close game,” she said.
Varhley was the brains behind the operation and the voice of reason from the sidelines. Knowing that the Blue Devils were upperclassmen-heavy, Varhley knew her team had a lot of experience, both good and bad, under their belts. She expressed that she was most impressed with “how [the girls] used that experience to grow. From day one, they set the tone: they showed up ready to learn, ready to elevate their play, and ready to lead.” Varhley plans to use the examples set by this year’s seniors to both influence and inspire the future of the field hockey program.
The team knew they had a lot to be proud of overall. Their growth throughout the season was tremendous, even though their confidence in themselves was initially not as high as it could have been. “We waited too long to realize how good we could actually be,” said Carr. “If we had brought the same level of confidence and urgency from day one, I think we could have pushed even farther.” Carr emphasized how, despite this, she is so proud of how far the team had come and how hard they had fought to get to where they were.
Westfield’s team consisted of 11 seniors, most of whom have been playing together since grade 8. To Restivo, that alone is very special. “That helped us more than anything, and getting to know each other’s style of play over the last five years has strengthened our chemistry in ways you can’t teach,” said Restivo. Martin agreed with this, emphasizing that “If you can’t communicate properly, then you can’t play well together as a team.”
In the end, this season became far more than a final record. It was a testament to Westfield’s resilience and the tight-knit spirit that carried them through every challenge. The legacy left behind by the 11 seniors set a high standard, but it also paved the way for the next generation of Blue Devils to build on the confidence and chemistry this group worked so hard to develop. With underclassmen eager to step into larger roles, the team moves into next year with renewed purpose and optimism.
