The Blue Devils came out hot Thursday afternoon, controlling possession and generating chances, but failed to put a tally on the scoreboard early on. Ultimately, they came out on top with a 2-0 win over New Providence, despite struggling to find the back of the net early. While the scoreboard showed just two goals, the offensive dominance and composure set the tone for the defending state champions, who improved to 5–0 on the season.
Much of Westfield’s success stemmed from its combination play. Even when shots didn’t fall early, the offensive pressure from the Blue Devils wore down their opponents.
But Westfield’s dominance wasn’t just about offense. The defensive unit, led by senior captain Olivia DiGregorio, did not see much action in the first half. Goalkeepers Sofia Bouscio and Phoebe Klag combined to shut out New Providence.
The turning point came with 4:22 left in the 1st half, when junior Emilie Cadigan gave the Blue Devils a well-deserved 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Composure, partnered with grit and intensity, was just the combination the Blue Devils needed to stay ahead in the second half. Senior Montclair State University commit, Mary Lane, scored on the team’s first offensive possession of the second half, just three minutes in. Lane said, “I knew I needed more energy in the second half. I changed my mindset and I had a lot more motivation to score coming out of the break.”
Head coach Alex Schmidt praised his team’s ability to pair intensity with high game IQ. “We got an early goal which was nice. At halftime, we discussed trying to stay composed coming into the second half,” he said. That balance was able to carry the Blue Devils from start to finish.
They kept their offensive momentum up throughout the entirety of the game, showing strong effort until the final horn. Senior captain Ashley Yenawine acknowledged how “combination play allowed us to waste time in the attacking third of the field, and possess the ball for the majority of the game offensively and tire out the other team.”
Although Westfield was not able to capitalize on another scoring opportunity, the gameplay stayed high and the Blue Devils were able to prevent New Providence from having any threatening scoring opportunities.
Beyond tactics, the win also highlighted the team’s chemistry, embodying how important team camaraderie is. Yenawine added, “Every ball I win, every touch I take and every pass I make, I know my team’s behind me.”
The team has a short break before returning to action next Thursday versus Brearley at home, looking to extend their winning streak.
