On June 4, Westfield girls lacrosse closed out their season after falling short in the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 4 sectional semifinal matchup against Ridgewood, 7-9. Despite the unexpected, unfortunate result, the Blue Devils still have many accomplishments to look back on from their season.
The Blue Devils ended their season with a 17-6 record and countless milestones from various players, including Senior Maeve Wojcik with 100 forced turnovers, 100 ground balls, and 100 draw controls; Senior Gilli Cohen with 200 goals; and Sophomore Kate Cymbor with 100 goals and 100 forced turnovers. Of the five seniors, four will continue playing lacrosse at the collegiate level.
While these seniors played a large role in leading the team, each player contributed. Tri-Captain and Tufts Commit Maeve Wojcik said, “The leadership within the team was very prevalent. It wasn’t just the upperclassmen leading, everyone had a voice, and everyone listened to each other’s feedback, no matter the age difference.”
Nearing the end of the season, the Blue Devils went on a seven-game winning streak before their loss in the semifinal against Ridgewood, after beating them prior in the season 10-9. During this game, head coach Katie Dasilva said, “I thanked the seniors for what they have created and how they have allowed the underclassmen to shine.”
One of the primary factors for the team’s success this season was the team chemistry, and the bond the Blue Devils had both on and off the field. “Everyone was always extremely supportive of others’ accomplishments,” Wojcik said. “We would not have been as successful as we were this season without this chemistry, and we spent a lot of time together off the field, which translated into our play on the field.”
Another reason the Blue Devils were able to have a successful season was their ability to stay calm even in difficult situations. Senior Muhlenberg commit Emily Kennedy said, “Our main strength was our composure on the field, where even in tough games or close moments, we would always be able to focus on the important things.”
Although the season ended earlier than anticipated, this team set a foundation for the years to come and the expectations that come with it. Winning competitive matchups such as Summit and Chatham, as well as winning “The Blue Cup” in their matchup against Pingry, the Blue Devils have a lot to be proud of and lots to look forward to in the program’s upcoming years.
