With the game tied 2-2 in overtime, the boys let their guards down. After a physical altercation during a Hunterdon Central breakaway, Hunterdon Central was awarded a penalty shot. As senior goalie Andrew Raber took his stance in the net, the Hunterdon Central player skated back to the center line planning out his strategy to win the game. The rink grew silent. In a few swift movements, the player had made his way towards the net and taken his shot. In a moment of pure adrenaline, Raber had done the impossible, by saving the shot and keeping the Blue Devils alive.
Unfortunately, this play could not save Westfield from their inevitable defeat. Hunterdon Central went on to win 3-2, scoring with only two minutes left over time. This loss was Westfield’s first of the season, putting an end to what could have been an undefeated season.
This loss was severely unexpected, as the Blue Devils seemed to have secured the win going into the third period with a goal in the first period from sophomore Blake Wotanowski and a goal from sophomore Andrew Lisnock in the second period.
The game was quite uneventful for the first two periods, nothing of true importance occurring other than the two goals scored. It was not until the third period that the team began to demonstrate true weakness on the defensive end.
“We got content,” said Raber. “This should be a message to us that we have to work all three periods.”
In the game prior against West Essex, Westfield faced the same problem of closing out the game. Head coach Joseph Bertucci said, “We’re struggling to put teams away right now, letting teams hang around in games, which is dangerous going into the third period.”
During the third period, Hunterdon Central had what Westfield lacked most. After being down two goals for the majority of the game and failing to capitalize on several shots, Hunterdon Central began to pick up momentum.
Their two goals were scored within the last ten minutes of the third period, tying up the game 2-2. After Hunterdon Central’s second goal, the atmosphere of the game changed completely.
Players such as junior Jack Conrod and senior captain Alex Ebel were frequently responsible for stoppage in game for engaging in physical quarrels with Hunterdon Central players. But even with Raber’s exceptional save and the aggressive physical efforts in overtime, this was not enough to put a halt to the drive of Hunterdon Central’s offense.
Although the Hunterdon Central team presented great competition to the Blue Devils during this matchup, Westfield was in the absence of two key players. Both junior Aidan Wilson and senior assistant captain Michael Marshall did not play on behalf of Westfield. Wilson leads the Blue Devils in goals this season with a total of nine so far.
“It would have been a different game,” said senior captain Michael Wilson. “But I’m not going to use it as an excuse.”
With the weekend to recover from their devastating loss, the Blue Devils will determine if they will begin a losing streak or quickly bounce back in their next game home against Governor Livingston on Monday at 8:15pm.
