Watertown Field Hockey followed up their MIAA State Tournament Round of 32 win over Swampscott last week with a low-scoring, yet dominant performance Tuesday afternoon at Victory Field by the score of 2-0 over 12th seeded Gloucester.
The fifth seeded Raiders await their Round of 8 opponent, which they’ll know by Wednesday evening. If fourth-seeded Medfield wins, Watertown played its last home game of 2025 on Election Day. If Nauset Regional can pull off the huge upset, Watertown will be gifted one more home game.
Many an inferior opponent have packed in their defense in an attempt to clog up the shooting lanes and make it hard for the Raiders to score. Tuesday was another example of that strategy. Gloucester had a good goaltender who made a number of fine saves, but credit the many defenders who either blocked or deflected potential scoring chances.
The Raiders were able to put one in the cage in each half, both courtesy of junior Kaylee Master. And both goals were a result of excellent passing and unselfish play by the Raiders, who continue to do an fine job of sharing the ball and trying to create open lanes to the goal.
For the second tournament game in a row, freshman goalie Natalia Keuchkarian did not face a shot. That, of course, will change, and all the Raiders can do is to continue to pepper her with shots in practice and keep her believing in herself for that moment that’s sure to come. There’s no substitute for game action to build and maintain confidence, and goalkeeper Keuchkarian will just have to stay ready.
It could be said that perhaps the Raiders don’t have that player or two, like recent years past, who can simply create their own offense regardless of what the defense does. That might be true, and perhaps that is one of the reasons Watertown is seeded fifth this year despite an impressive 17-2 record, with 101 goals scored and only 11 allowed on the season.
But I would be careful if I were their next opponent. I would advise them not to take the Raiders for granted or believe it’s a down year. The Raiders are one of the best teams in the State, and capable of winning their fifth straight Div. 3 crown. Is the margin for error narrower than years past? Perhaps, but beware — this team, with two seniors, four juniors, six sophomores and two freshman, has put in the hard work and badly wants to add a 23rd title to 40-year head coach Eileen Donahue’s legacy. Stay tuned.
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1 2 3 4 – F
Gloucester 0 0 0 0 – 0
Watertown 0 1 1 0 – 2
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1st Period
No Scoring
2nd Period
Watertown 1 Gloucester 0… Kaylee Master @ 5:13
3rd Period
Watertown 2 Gloucester 0… Kaylee Master @ 10:05
4th Period
No Scoring