With under a minute to play, Westfield was trying to regroup and start a final offensive attack for the game-winning goal or the game would be sent to overtime. However, in the blink of an eye, a Randolph forward pickpocketed the puck from Westfield and scored on a breakaway, pulling out a win for Randolph.
An important game on Senior Night for Westfield, as it was the final matchup before the first round of the NJIHL tournament. Westfield came in playing with confidence, outscoring opponents 32-3 throughout their last three games. However, Randolph produced a tough challenge for the Blue Devils.
Westfield came out firing pucks on goal, immediately taking control of the possession aspect of the game. “We try to focus on puck possession in practice, moving the puck around and creating offensive plays. We did a pretty good job with that, just didn’t do a good job with finishing,” said head coach Matt Gualtieri. Unfortunately for Westfield, around three minutes in, Randolph would take an early lead, putting the puck through the five hole into the back of the net.
The Blue Devils piled on the shots against Randolph, including an opportunity by Ava Benson on a breakaway with under three minutes to go in the first period. But, she was stuffed by the goaltender who had an impressive night, making over 30 saves.
Halfway through the second, Westfield was up 23-5 on the shot count, but they had no goals to show for it. Lauren Delaney put a shot on goal from the side, and her sister, Ella Delaney, put the rebound home to tie the game with about eight minutes on the clock. However, the celebration was short-lived for Westfield, as a shot from the circle to the goalie’s right snuck past the defense, and Randolph reclaimed the lead with about three minutes to go.
After gaining momentum from a strong penalty kill near the halfway point of the third, the Blue Devils needed a goal in any way possible and that is what they got. A mad scramble in front ended with senior captain Emmy Wotanowski sticking the rebound in the back of the net, tying the game at two a side.
From this point until the end of the game became one of the most intense periods of hockey Westfield had faced all year. With about eight minutes remaining, Westfield received a penalty for boarding. Seconds later, they took a hooking penalty. A minute and 32 seconds of 5-on-3 hockey was to be played. Not even 30 seconds later, play was blown dead after the puck was covered. Chaos ensued, as multiple players got into fisticuffs. Coincidental minors were handed out, ruling that one player for each team would be sent off, but no change to the number of players on the ice.
However, two Westfield skaters let emotions get the best of them, exchanging “pleasantries” with the officials, resulting in both players being handed a 10-minute misconduct. Since there was less than 10 minutes left to play, both players were sent off the ice, shouting at the referee as they skated to the locker room. Luckily for the Blue Devils, the defense shined and killed off the penalties, keeping the game tied.
With two minutes to go, there was a stoppage of play lasting close to 10 minutes, after a collision at center ice led to a Randolph skater being helped off the ice with an apparent head injury. Then, Randolph took the lead in the final minute, ending an emotional rollercoaster at the end of the game.
“Going into the playoff game on Sunday, we definitely got to pick it back up and get into a good mentality,” Wotanowski said. The Blue Devils have their first round of the NJIHL tournament on Feb. 8, opponent and location of the game is to be determined.
