When the Blue Devils stepped out onto the field, it was clear they were bound for victory. With their heads held high, they were seeking redemption after Tuesday’s tough loss to Madison.
What seemed to be a back-and-forth game at the start changed instantly as senior co-captain Alex Rokhsar found the top corner of the net just seven minutes in, setting the stage for the remainder of the match.
Head coach Eric Shaw credited Rokhsar: “Alex scored a great goal, and that changed the complexion of the game. We continued to respond by putting on a lot of pressure and creating a lot of chances and ultimately scoring five goals.” With Westfield having the upper hand throughout the game, they were able to shift towards a more comfortable dynamic.
The Blue Devils struggled to create plays against Madison, but that was not the case with Union. Westfield took every possession as an opportunity to score. Rokhsar noted that they focused on slowing down the attacking side and “trying to put passes through the box in order to get a touch,” which was also something they had been working on during practice.
The team was eager to get back onto the field and showcase their talent. Junior defender Reean Dias was able to keep the back line together while contributing a goal to their 5-0 win. “I think [the win] was a lot about communication. We are all great individually, but when we play as a group, nobody can get past us,” Dias said.
The Blue Devils were up by three at the half, but Union came on stronger in the second half putting more pressure on Westfield’s defense. Westfield was able to disregard the clock and put in their full effort to make the most out of each play. Shaw commented, “We don’t look at the 80-minute game. We focus on little moments through the match and we try to motivate them through the next action and continue to play and create chances.”
Senior Joaquin Wilkes also scored his first two varsity goals in the final minutes of the game. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Wilkes said. Rokhsar added, “He took the opportunity of getting minutes on the field and then scoring two goals. It’s the best thing you could ask for, especially in a bounce-back game after a tough loss.”
“We have some good quality. Today was about getting a result and I think our mentality was good,” Shaw said. The Blue Devils look to continue this dominating attitude on Sep. 16 at Gary Kehler Stadium at 4 p.m. against Rahway.
