The game seemed to be over. Westfield walked on the ice to start the third period leading West Essex by two goals. This was not an original story; Westfield dominated West Essex 5-1 just weeks before and this ending seemed to be going the same way. But, with 10:35 left in the third period, a far shot and scramble in front of the net put Westfield back on their heels, holding on to a 4-3 lead.
Westfield felt defeated heading into overtime with West Essex having tied the game with under five minutes left. After another five physical overtime minutes the game ended with a 4-4 score, proving to be an unexpected test for the Blue Devils.
The first period was undoubtedly dominated by Westfield with the Blue Devils scoring two quick goals, the first by senior captain Alex Ebel just five minutes into the game. Setting the tone, sophomore Andrew Lisnock added to the scoreboard for the second goal of the first period.
With just under three minutes, West Essex had their first momentum shift of the game. A missed pass off of the boards left the puck open in the middle of the ice. One West Essex player broke through, flying past two Westfield defenders and sneaking the puck past senior goalie Andrew Raber. Even after being dominated in the first period West Essex kept themselves in the game, shortening the margin in one split-second play.
Wanting to push back against West Essex, junior Aidan Wilson received the puck off of the first faceoff of the second period, charged down the ice and buried the puck before the West Essex goalie was fully set for the shot. His older brother and senior captain Michael Wilson knew that the offense just needed to keep working. “We just need to have short term memory. Moving along even though we couldn’t put the puck, in the back of the net you just have to think forward,” he said.
Despite the continued success from Westfield’s offense, the West Essex players were not giving up intensity, and a breakaway down the ice followed by a goal brought the score closer. Now 3-2, Westfield needed to ensure their lead. Andrew Raber had multiple defensive stops to bring the momentum to Westfield’s offense.
With only 1:12 left in the second period, in a two on one fast break, Kolby Azzaretto found Aidan Wilson by the net to put Westfield up by two. At this point the Blue Devils seemed to have the game in control, but this level of comfort would quickly be disturbed.
After the two late-game goals put them into overtime, Westfield suddenly felt the risk of losing what felt like a secured win one period earlier.
Head coach Joe Bertucci said, “We need to do a better job of putting teams away when we have leads. Last time we did that this time we did not. If you let a team like this hang around a little bit, flukey things happen, but it’s a learning experience for us.”
Senior goalie Andrew Raber had an impressive defensive game and said his mindset remains the same no matter what the gametime situation is: “I don’t really think it’s adjusting your mindset, I think it’s making sure you keep the same mindset. I think during the end of the game we kind of lost track. I lost track of where I was supposed to be on the ice. I was upset but I think it’s important to maintain the mindset that I had because you get lost if you keep changing it.”
As a young team, they have things to work on, but they can use this game to improve for the future. Michael Wislon said, “I feel like a lot of our younger guys got down on themselves but as the season rolls on and get more varsity games under their belt they will adjust more to that. As the years go along we will adjust more on that.”
The Blue Devils will face off against Hunterdon Central at 8:15 p.m. at Flemington Ice Arena on Friday.
