Success is the sum of small efforts – repeated day in and day out. ~ Robert Collier
Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan. John F. Kennedy
Watertown began defense of their State D3 Title – make that the past four years in a row and 22 in the past 39 years, all under the guidance and leadership of Coach Eileen Donahue – last week. Wins at Lexington and Burlington (6-1 and 6-0 respectively) provided Watertown with their 98th and 99th consecutive contests without defeat. Their home opener against cross-town rival Belmont would provide a major early-season test, or at least that’s how Belmont surely thought of it.
Considered a top 10 team in the Boston Globe pre-season rankings, the Marauders won their first two games as well. They played Watertown close last season in a 3-0 loss at Belmont, and they sported two seniors already committed to college programs next year, including Coach Donahue’s niece, who’s heading to UNC. So, the stage was set – the champs with the pedigree, but with a roster in transition, versus the challengers, eager to be the team to end Watertown’s epic undefeated streak.
It was a beautiful day to play just about anything, but at 4:15 at Victory Field the whistle blew and an exciting field hockey game was underway. What’s so remarkable is how the Raiders just keep reloading. Gone from last year’s team were Williams and Fleming, Egan and MacKenzie, Andrade and Dicker. In their place are new faces, including freshman Lola Venezia and goalies Angelina Calleva and Natalia Keuchkarian. Returning players looking to gain playing time include junior Sydney Prestash and sophomores Willow MacKenzie and Clare Donohue. The Staring lineup on Tuesday included senior Co-Captain Sophia Setouhi up front along with junior Kaylee Master and sophomore Ayda Hyke. The midfield included Juniors Aisling Brennock and Katelyn O’Connor, and Sophomores Avangeline Anderson and Tyler Foley. On Defense included senior co-captain Ava Lamacchia, sophomore Gianna Venezia and freshman Lola Venezia, and in goal was Keuchkarian.
Watertown scored first, with 7:50 left in the first 15 minute period. A wicked slapper from the left arc off the stick of Kaylee Master made it all the way to the net, and inexcusably, the Belmont goalie did not move, either thinking the play had been whistled dead or the shot was going wide. Instead it just missed going in and hit the far post. Number 20 Aisling Brennock was ready to pounce on the rebound and stuffed the ball in the net to give Watertown the early 1-0 advantage.
The remainder of the period and most of the second period saw minor shifts in pace of play and control of the ball. Watertown forced their will early in the period, and were rewarded with three penalty corners. One of them resulted in another wicked shot by Kaylee Master, and this one found the back of the net with 5:40 left till halftime. Belmont found itself down 2-0, but they didn’t panic, and started to put some pressure on freshman goalie Keuchkarian. The Maurauders earned a penalty corner late in the period and scored off it with 13 seconds left in the half. The goal cut the lead to 2-1 and arguably gave Belmont a dose of momentum heading into the second half.
Shots at the half were six apiece, and penalty corners rewarded 3-2 in Watertown’s favor. Belmont had belief after the late goal, and Watertown wanted to squash that belief with a quick goal. The early stage of the third saw both teams dragging just a bit, with neither team really taking control. But by the second half of the period, a switch went off and the field was slanted in Belmont’s favor. Pressure mounted, and along with it four penalty corners rewarded to Belmont. Somehow, Watertown held Belmont at bay, and the best thing that happened was that the buzzer sounded ending the third period, with Watertown still ahead 2-1.
Fifteen minutes stood between Belmont ending the streak or Watertown celebrating an extra-special win. Early in the period Watertown regained their mojo and forced the play, but two penalty corners resulted in no scoring chances for the Raiders. As a matter of fact, unofficial stats had Watertown without a single shot on net the entire second half! As the clock wound down, Watertown found themselves breaking up attempts by Belmont to muster an attack, but Belmont never stopped.
With under a minute to play, Belmont forced the ball deep into the right corner of Watertown, and eventually they worked the ball towards the slot. Watertown desperately tried to get their stick on the ball for one last clear that would run out the clock. Instead, with under 10 seconds to play Watertown was whistled for a violation, resulting in a penalty corner. Now, the clock doesn’t stop on a penalty call, so the game clock ran to zero. Game over you say?! Sorry, nope. A penalty corner gets played out regardless.
So, the scene was set. Watertown up 2-1. Watertown looking to make it 100 games in a row without defeat. Belmont looking to tie the game. The game clock at zero, so unless another penalty was called, the game would end with this play. Belmont ran their play, a backhand shot by a Maurauder headed towards the Watertown cage, freshman goalie Natalia Keuchkarian stood prepared to make the save, but didn’t have to as it sailed high and to the left of the goal and out of play. GAME OVER. STREAK INTACT. Watertown the winners 2-1 in a thrilling early-season matchup of top-ranked teams.
The streak will surely end. They all do. Maybe on Friday, Sept. 12 when Watertown travels to Wilmington or next Tuesday when they play at Stoneham. Or maybe not. What we do know is that Coach Donahue will coach this team day after day as though there is no streak. She’ll teach and develop and insist on giving young athletes the tools to grow and succeed. And we know that many a young ladies have contributed to the success of this program over the years, and regardless of Belmont outplaying Watertown on this particular day, Watertown Field Hockey has every right to rejoice and reflect and stand proud after yet another remarkable accomplishment!
1 2 3 4 F
Belmont 0 1 0 0 1
Watertown 1 1 0 0 2
1st P.
7:50 Watertown, 1 -0, Goal By Aisling Brennock
2nd P.
5:40 Watertown, 2 – 0, Goal By Kaylee Master
:13 Watertown, 2 – 1, Belmont Goal
3rd P.
No Scoring
4th P.
No Scoring
Shots on Net: Watertown 6, Belmont 10
The Watertown Public Schools also provided an announcement for the Raiders’ 100th straight win.
Watertown High School Field Hockey Wins 100th Straight Game
Hall of Fame coach Eileen Donahue guides program to second 100-game winning streak of her career
Watertown High School field hockey, one of the most decorated programs in U.S. field hockey history, won their 100th straight game Tuesday, defeating rival Belmont 2-1.
With the win, the Raiders became the first program in state history to record two separate 100-game winning streaks. Watertown set the national record for consecutive wins (124) during a 184-game unbeaten streak – also a national record – between 2008-2017.
The Raiders are led by head coach Eileen Donahue, a 2019 inductee to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Donahue is 780-34-46 in her 40-year career. She is one of eight coaches in the 700-win club and only two coaches in U.S. history have eclipsed the 800-win mark. The Raiders have won 22 state championships during Donahue’s tenure.
“It’s not about me. Clearly it’s about all those players,” said Donahue.
The Raiders have not lost a game since 2019 and have won four straight state championships. During this unbeaten streak, the Raiders also set the national record for consecutive shutouts (41). The streak spanned the 2022 and 2023 seasons and was broken in the 2023 state championship game by Newburyport, a contest the Raiders won 4-3.
“Year after year, the Watertown field hockey team continues to build on their legacy with hard work, determination, and dedication,” said Watertown Athletic Director Ryan Murphy. “The coaches and student athletes never cease to amaze me. It is a great honor to get to see them work and achieve up close every day. They continue to make the school community proud.”
Based on available records, Watertown appears to be the only field hockey program in U.S. history to record two separate 100-game winning streaks. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, only one other school in the United States has ever won 100 games in a row. Oklahoma City Casady won 106 games consecutively from 1956-1969.