Going into Wednesday’s game, Westfield looked to destroy Bridgewater-Raritan in the second round of sectionals. With high tension and pressure to make it to the NJSIAA sectional semifinals, Westfield would apply intense pressure to come out with a 7-0 win, adding an eighth loss to the Panthers record.
Sophomore Andrew Lisnock managed to get the first goal of the game only 30 seconds in. Tying for second place for Westfield’s highest goalscorer, he was a major offensive threat this game.
The rest of the first period involved the majority of the play being held by the Blue Devils without a change in the score until sophomore Blake Wotanowski was able to find the back of the net off of a wrist shot with about three minutes left.
With less than a minute left of the first, senior tri-captain Alex Ebel was also able to sneak in a wrist shot past the Panthers goalie, making the score 3-0 early on.
Ebel explained, “It’s always fun to play in these types of games, and I think this year we really have a chance to go far and do it all. I’m super motivated, and I don’t really think we have to motivate the guys in that locker room, everyone is working towards the main goal and we know what we have to do.”
For the first couple minutes of the second, Westfield fought hard for the next goal. Senior Kolby Azzaretto was able to capitalize on his breakaway to increase the score, 4-0.
Westfield continued to put up a strong defense, not letting Bridgewater-Raritan get close to senior goalie Andrew Raber.
Raber said, “I think we were buzzing and we came into this game with the right mindset. This one or anyone from here on out could be our last. We knew they had a good squad but we came in every period to a new game.”
Seven minutes into the second, top goalscorer for the Blue Devils, junior Aidan Wilson, got his seventeenth goal of the season which was one of his six points in just this game alone.
In the third period, Westfield saw two more goals coming from junior Brody Essler and another from Lisnock.
“We scored within the first 35 seconds, so we didn’t look back and I’m proud,” said head coach Joe Bertucci. “That’s the kind of hockey we need to play in the playoffs. The highlight of the game was being able to put everybody on the ice and everybody contributed. I’m excited and the team deserves to be there and it’s not going to be the end of it.”
The Blue Devils are back in action next Monday against the winner of Rumson-Fair Haven and Hillsborough who will play tonight at 8:15 p.m..
