Westfield hockey falls to Summit in Union County Cup final

ROSELLE - For the Westfield High School ice hockey team to hoist the Union County Cup for the first time since 2015, it would have to get past a relentless Summit squad – a feat the Blue Devils have yet to accomplish this season.

In the first matchup against the Hilltoppers, Westfield (8-6-6) was shutout 3-0, but in the second meeting, the Blue Devils tightened up on the defensive end to force a 1-1 draw.

In the third and most important meeting between the two perennial teams, the Union County Cup final at Warinanco Park on Saturday, the game was tied 0-0 after the first period, but the top-seeded Summit (12-6-2) exploded for five goals in the second to clinch the program’s sixth title in eight years with a 6-0 dominating victory against No 2. Westfield.

“They are a solid team," Westfield coach Joe Bertucci said. “They have the lines that could skate, and we knew that from the get go. We just didn’t get to capitalize on the opportunities that we had, and they did, that was the difference.”

Despite the lopsided defeat, Westfield looked sharp in the opening period of play as the defense was able to limit Summit to nine shots on goal without surrendering a goal. Westfield goalkeeper Ethan Finver finished the contest with 15 saves.

On the offensive side, Westfield had six shots on goal in the opening period and had an early opportunity to take an early lead as Summit was called for a two-minute minor in the second minute of regulation. Unfortunately for Westfield, it could not capitalize as the offense only got one shot on goal during the first power play. And couldn’t capitalize on another power-play that came midway through the first period.

In the second period, the stout defensive play from both goalkeepers continued until Westfield was called for hooking with 10:04 remaining. The Hilltoppers would take a 1-0 lead just 34 seconds later as Owen McLaughlin redirected the puck into the back of the net after Corey McManus rocketed a shot near the blue line.

Another minor penalty against the Blue Devils would be called with 6:57 remaining, but Westfield had its best opportunity of the day with a 2-on-1 breakaway, however,  the shot just missed the net wide for the shorthanded goal. Immediately after, Summit took it down the ice and shot it top shelf to make it 2-0 with 6:05 remaining in the second period.

“It’s momentum swings, you got the highs and lows of hockey,” Bertucci said about the missed breakaway shot that led to another Summit goal. “Unfortunately, a couple bounces went their way and a couple of bounces didn’t go our way, and that’s the game.”

Summit would build off the momentum, as David Sharpe won the following face off and skated right down the ice to give and found the back of the net to give a 3-0 lead just five seconds after their second goal. Summit would score two more times three minutes later to give the Hilltoppers a commanding 5-0 lead heading into the third. Summit’s five goals in the second period all came within a 7:10 span.

Unfortunately for Westfield, the deficit would be too large to overcome despite a resilient effort in the final period.

The Blue Devils will now look to make some noise in the following tournaments to close out the season.

“We still have hockey to play,” Bertucci said. “We still got a league tournament to go through and a state tournament to go through. So, we still have some hockey to go."