Charlie Breitrose
Watertown’s Caiden Kiani is embraced by Xhonathan Kadi after scoring against Gloucester. Kiani got two goals in the Raiders’ 5-1 State Tournament win.
The Watertown High School boys soccer team came out firing on all cylinders, and rolled past Gloucester, 5-1, in the first round of the MIAA Div. 3 North Section tournament.
The fourth seeded Raiders (13-5-1) scored early and often in the game at Victory Field against the 13th seeded Fishermen (5-12-1), Friday night.
Watertown’s Caiden Kiani got the Raiders on the scoreboard just 1:53 into the match. Alex Egan got the assist.
Less than two minutes later, however, Gloucester tied it up off a set piece.
“That was our goal, to score in the first 10 minutes of the game, but it wasn’t to give up a goal right after we scored,” said Watertown Head Soccer Coach Frank Cacia.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown’s Rodrigo Freitas scored a goal in each half in the Raiders’ win over Gloucester at Victory Field.
The Raiders did not have to wait long to regain the lead. Rodrigo Freitas broke free and shot the ball past the goalkeeper 10:37 into the first half. He was assisted by Kiani.
Minutes later, Kiani collected his second goal, this time on a screaming shot from about 30 yards out, putting the Raiders up 3-1, 15 minutes into the game. Enrique Duarte got the assist.
Duarte made it 4-1 with another long distance effort. The goal 23:20 into the first half was assisted by Gevork Karapetyan.
Charlie Breitrose
Alex Egan got two assists in the 5-1 victory over Gloucester in the first round to the Div. 3 North tournament.
Cacia said he did not mind his players firing shots from all over the field.
“If the shot presents itself, test the keeper and see what he has,” Cacia said.
In the second half, Freitas got his second goal when he took a pass from Egan and put the ball past the goalie. The goal came five minutes into the second half.
Watertown returns to Victory Field for the North Section quarterfinal against fifth seeded Pentucket, which beat Swampscott 3-2. The game begins at 1 p.m. The winner moves on to face either Lynnfield or Newburyport.
Charlie Breitrose
Caiden Kiani dribbles up field against Gloucester Friday night. He scored two goals and added an assist in the 5-1 victory.