With 27:34 left in the first half, and Westfield down 0-1, sophomore Ryan Gibbons passes the ball to senior co-captain Cooper Janota on the wing, playing the ball into the middle of the box, setting junior Andrew Johnson up for the final goal of the game.
In preparation for their matchup against Cranford, the Blue Devils were at an advantage as many of the upperclassmen on the team played on the same club team, Union County Football Club, for many years.
Senior and co-captain Reean Dias said, “Being on a club team with 3-4 of their seniors I know how they play and what they like to do. We knew where their strengths and weaknesses were before the game without really watching them play which gave us a huge advantage.”
This showed throughout the entirety of the game. Cranford scored within the first 17 minutes and the Blue Devils responded within a minute. Head coach Eric Shaw emphasized how the boys are friendly with the several of the talented players on Cranford, meaning that they really needed to compete throughout the entire match, and that their spirit and determination needed to be present more than ever.
The first half was very back and forth and level-headed, but after halftime the tie remained and the competitive nature of the game just kept growing. Eleven minutes into the second half, Cranford fouled junior Beckett Johnson giving the Blue Devils a free kick at midfield.
Shortly after the first yellow card of the game was given, Cranford’s forward floored junior goalie Lucas Rossario without any whistles blown. From here, the atmosphere of the crowd fueled the game. From the sideline, after suffering an injury, senior Jack Hantman said, “I knew I had to give everyone energy, get hype, stand up and clap and help out the guys who play the same position as me.”
With 11:48 left in the second half, and the score still tied at 1-1, the Cranford team’s cracks started to show, receiving a yellow card giving the Blue Devils yet another free kick. Yet, they could not finish on any balls which was detrimental to the final outcome of the game.
Due to the tie, the Blue Devils headed into their first overtime, where it felt like a continuation of the second half. With no goals from either side, another OT was warranted. Rossario held strong in goal, making back-to-back saves keeping the score tied at 1-1, where it would eventually end.
Ultimately, the Blue Devils head into their next game focused on marking players on defense and giving themselves more opportunities to score.
The Blue Devils will face New Providence at 4:15 at Gary Kehler Stadium on Thursday.
