Westfield’s Leighanne Sullivan protects the ball against Mahar. (Submitted photo)
ORANGE – The Westfield High School field hockey team was halfway home to escaping Orange with a sweet victory over Mahar. But the home team rallied in the game’s final minutes to defeat the Bombers, 2-1, Thursday.
Courtney White scored the game-winner with 1:46 remaining, picking the ball up off the leg of Westfield’s keeper and finding the back of the net. White set up the equalizer – a goal from Colleen Blake – with 3:50 left.
Westfield’s Lexi Minicucci, left, looks to break up Mahar’s drive. (Submitted photo)
Lexi Minicucci put Westfield out front when she ripped a first-half goal into the net. Leighanne Sullivan assisted on the play.
Westfield goalie Karly Mastello made 15 saves.
“It was a frustrating loss for the Bombers,” Westfield coach Karen Gomez said. “We played really hard. It was a good, fast-paced game. We just weren’t connecting on all our passes in front of the net.”
It was a change-of-pace game for Westfield, playing on turf at Mahar. The Bombers typically only see grass surfaces for much of the regular season.
JV RESULTS
Westfield 1, Mahar 1
The first half ended in a scoreless stalemate. The Lady Bombers were the first team in the second half to score at 22:13 when Marissa Otero drove the ball into the cage from an awesome Grace Silva assist. The Lady Senators answered back at 10:38 with a goal of their own. Westfield goalkeeper Jenna Rothermel made five saves in goal. This tie was the Bombers’ first, bringing their overall record to 7-1-1 at the halfway mark of the season.
