Losing their leading scorer from last year – Sofia Della Rocco (55 goals) – due to injury at the beginning of the season put undue pressure on the Westfield High School Blue Devil lacrosse girls. But despite the very tough schedule ahead, the team stepped up to the challenge and finished with a 10-10 record.
The Blue Devil girls jumped right into the fire and dropped their season opener to the Morristown Colonials, who would go on to win the Morris County Tournament, the North Jersey, Group 4 title and the overall Group 4 crown to finish 23-1 with their only loss being, 8-7, to the Summit Hilltoppers, who would win the Union County Tournament (UCT), North Jersey, Group 2 and overall Group 2 crowns.
After a 7-6 victory over Northern Highlands, the Blue Devils bowed to a sizzling Oak Knoll Royal squad that would eventually win the Prep A, and Non Public A titles. The Blue Devils got back to their feet to stop Mountain Lakes (14-8), Morris Knolls (109, 2 overtimes) and Immaculate Heart Academy – IHA – (9-8). The Madison Dodgers dodged the bullet to edge the Blue Devils, 12-10. Wins over North Hunterdon (11-5) and West Essex (10-7) put the Blue Devils’ record at 6-3.
Next, the Blue Devils had to run the gauntlet with losses to the Kent Place Dragons (finished 17-5), Glen Ridge (won South, Group 1 and Group 1 crowns to finish 17-6) and Summit. The Blue Devils got back over .500 with a 7-6, overtime win over the Hillsborough Raiders. The UCT was next and the Blue Devils defeated the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders, 1810, then bowed once again to the Oak Knoll Royals.
A 14-6 setback to the Ridgewood Maroon was followed by a 16-8 win over Montclair. After falling to Randolph in the regular-season finale, the Blue Devils rocked West Orange, 17-6, in the first round of the North Jersey, Group 4 Tournament then were stunned in the quarterfinals to Montclair, 17-11.
A number of Blue Devils picked up the slack offensively from the absence of Della Rocco. Sophomore attacker Gillian Cohen led the team in overall points with 40 goals and 19 assists for a total of 59. She also scooped 16 ground balls (GB) and had one draw control. Sophomore midfielder Alice Manzo stuffed in 40 goals and added eight assists for 48 points and added 25 GB and 49 draw controls. Senior midfielder Lucy Mineo finished with 37 goals and 17 assists for 54 points and added 24 GB and eight draw controls.
Senior Juliana Molinelli finished with 17 goals, seven assists and 16 GB. Junior Abi Mokrzycki led the team in draw controls with 80, and added 15 goals, two assists and 13 GB. Senior Kate Watson finished with seven goals, two assists, 22 GB and six draws. Senior Lola Geoghan recorded five goals, an assist, five GB and one draw. Sophomore defender Maeve Wojcik was second in draws with 57 and added four goals, an assist and 22 GB.
Senior defenderAllie Constantinou finished with three goals, two assists and eight GB. Freshman Skylar Abo recorded two goals, two assists and two GB. Junior Maddy Coen had a goal, two assists, three GB and eight draws. Junior defender Erin Hazard finished with two goals, assist, 21 GB and eight draws. Senior Sara Rooney had a goal and 27 GB. Senior Emily Shabinaw had a goal and a GB. Junior Sydney O’Connor scored once. Freshman Logan Partridge had an assist and a GB. Junior defender Emma Blake scooped 10 GB and had a draw.
Senior goalkeeper Kaitlynn Czarnecki recorded 108 saves. Junior Lauren Furey made 38 saves and freshman Payton Monusky made one save.
In the overtime win over Morris Knolls, Cohen recorded four goals and four assists, including the game winner. Cohen scored four goals against IHA and Mineo had two goals and two assists. Mineo had three goals and two assists in the OT win over Hillsborough. Against the SPF Raiders, Manzo had five goals and two assists, Mineo had four goals and an assist, and Molinelli netted four goals. The win over Montclair had Manzo netting five goals and two assists. Against West Orange, Mineo had three goals and two assists, Mokrzycki had three goals and an assist, Manzo scored three goals and Hazard scored twice.
The Blue Devils will return three of their top-5 offensive players and a number of defenders next year.
