With 30 seconds remaining in the game and Summit up a goal and in possession of the ball, the Blue Devils were desperate to win the ball and get it back into their offensive half of the field. Westfield had all of its defenders around the ball, looking to force Summit into a turnover that could possibly lead to a goal and overtime. Although Westfield was successful in gaining the final possession of the game, there would not be enough time to capitalize on the opportunity and score. Summit ended the game on top with a 7–6 win over Westfield.
The game started with Summit in possession after the initial faceoff, but no goals came until Summit’s James Grainger scored just under four minutes into the game. Each team had early opportunities but was unable to finish until Grainger got it started.
Early in the first quarter, senior co-captain Ryan Waldman had the ball behind the net and was quick to beat his defender, making his way towards the goal. As he left his defender on the ground, he attempted to put Westfield on the scoreboard first, but his shot was saved by Summit goalie Robbie Kievit.
The first quarter was seemingly going to end in a 1–1 tie after junior Cody Lam put Westfield on the scoreboard with just under three minutes left, but then, with about 24 seconds left, Summit went back up 2–1 with a goal from Sean McCeney. Goals in the second quarter came from McCeney, who brought Summit up 3–1, and Lam, who tied it back up at 3–3 to end the half.
The Hilltoppers were able to find a surge of momentum after Waldman put Westfield up 4–3 early in the third quarter. With just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter, Summit scored its fourth goal to tie the game back up, then, five minutes later, its fifth goal to reclaim the lead. Summit scored four consecutive goals and took its largest lead of the game, a margin of three, with just over 9 minutes left in the game.
Each goalie came up big in moments for both teams as senior co-captain Quinn Wojcik recorded 8 saves, including an impressive save to end the first quarter and another with five minutes left in the game. Kievit recorded 10 saves on the day.
Westfield and Summit, ranked No. 7 and No. 12 in the state, respectively, have had an intense rivalry for years as two of the best teams in the county. Last season the teams met twice, Summit taking it home both times, including a 13–2 victory in the county championship and an 11–10 overtime win in the season opener. “Everyone was super excited for this game,” Waldman said. “It’s the first game of the year and anytime we play Summit everyone definitely gets extra fired up.”
Lam had a game-high four goals and Waldman put in two goals for the Blue Devils and recorded two assists. Summit’s highest scorer of the day was McCeney with 3 goals.
The Blue Devils look to use this game as motivation for Saturday’s game against Columbia, whom they beat 11–6 in last year’s North, Group 4 sectional quarterfinal. For the rest of the season, Waldman said, “It was not the outcome we wanted, but I’m confident in our coaching and this team to have a very successful season.”
