The Student News Site of Westfield High School

Hi's Eye

The Student News Site of Westfield High School

Hi's Eye

The Student News Site of Westfield High School

Hi's Eye

Girls soccer Halloween victory

by Tom Malley 

On a chilly Halloween afternoon, the Lady Blue Devils cruised to a 4-0 victory against Hillsboro in the first round of the state tournament.

Led by sophomore Mary Randazzo, the girls came out firing. Despite being struck with multiple offside calls early, the girls scored two goals, each by Randazzo. Each goal was scored on an open net, the second on a diving shot into the post.

“I couldn’t let [that second goal] out,” said Randazzo, “I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself if I hadn’t made that goal.”

However, the potent Westfield offense was slowed as Hillsboro bounced back with an offensive surge of their own. Luckily for the girls senior goalie Sophia DeVita had an answer at the other end coming up with multiple diving saves.

At the end of the first half the girls were up 2-0. “We made sure the girls remained focused,” Said head coach Alex Schmidt, “No lead is safe in a state tournament game.”

Early in the second half the girls struck again, this time by senior tri-captain Victoria Gagliano guided the ball into the back of the net off an assist from Randazzo.

As the game progressed, the girls continued to play strong defense. Then, with 18:45 senior tri-captain Mercedes Smith buried a shot in the back of the net, but it was called back on a controversial offside call.

Minutes later Westfield responded with a goal by senior Kayla Krasnoo, giving the Lady Blue Devils a 4-0 lead. The girls were once again plagued with offside calls towards the end of the game; fortunately this did not hinder their performance.

“The great thing about our program is that the expectations, comaraderie, competitiveness, core values and such things are a constant,” Said Schmidt, “Our goal as coaches was to build not just a successful team year in and year out, but to build a program that will last years to come.”

The Lady Blue Devils will play arch-rival Scotch Plains Fanwood in the Union County Tournament final tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Kean University. “We just have to stay composed and not get intimidated,” said Randazzo. “We have to stay calm and show them the powerful team that we were when we played them the first time this season.”

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