With just 15 seconds remaining in the first half, an air of anticipation hung heavy in the stadium. The Blue Devils, sensing the imminent danger, resorted to kicking the ball out of bounds in a desperate bid to prevent a potential goal. This strategic move, however, awarded Elizabeth with an enviable corner kick.
As the referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the corner play, Elizabeth’s players gathered with a sense of determination. The kicker delivered a powerful, precision-driven strike, sending the ball soaring to the opposite post. Amidst a sea of Westfield defenders, an Elizabeth attacker found an opening and headed the ball past senior goalie Luke Tennant’s fingertips. This power play from Elizabeth’s offense set the tone of the game, not allowing Westfield to catch up and leaving Westfield with a 2-0 loss.
Elizabeth’s dominance on the field was seen early on. However, their many shots on goal often seemed as direct passes to Tennant, allowing for easy saves. What Elizabeth lacked in finishing, they more than compensated for with their lightning-fast pace. They consistently beat Westfield players to every ball, allowing for consistent possession of the ball. Coach Eric Shaw says in the future when Westfield loses possession, they “have to get quicker to get it back.”
After Elizabeth’s first goal, the tone for Westfield completely changed.
Elizabeth controlled the game and forced Westfield back onto their heels. Despite the constant pressure from Elizabeth, the Westfield defense held strong and had multiple forced turnovers. The Blue Devils desperately tried to ignite a spark in the second half, but their light was quickly defused by the Elizabeth offense.
A lack of energy and a rush of frustration overtook Westfield toward the end of the second half. Missed opportunities on offense and “struggling with the small details” also became a key part of the Blue Devils loss, said senior captain Zach Preucil.
There were multiple uncontested shots from the Westfield forward line that were simply handed to the Elizabeth goalie. Both teams spent a majority of the game missing shots high and shooting the ball far over the crossbar.
The game came down to hustle and speed, and in the end, Elizabeth had the upper hand. Elizabeth beat out Westfield to the majority of 50/50 balls and continuously kept the ball in their possession.
Westfield put up a good fight and will use this game as fuel for their long awaited game at RedBull arena. The Blue Devils take on Scotch Plain-Fanwood tomorrow and will make a statement for all of Union County and Group 4.
