WEST BRIDGEWATER — Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure … than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. ~ Theodore Roosevelt
Unless the players and coaches of Watertown Field Hockey had lived under a rock the past three months, except for when practicing and playing field hockey, they certainly knew the challenge they faced Wednesday night. Upon beating Medfield last Saturday afternoon, they rightfully celebrated qualifying for the Division 3 State semifinals, while realizing the reward came at a price. The Raiders learned that first-hand Wednesday night, losing 7-0 to top-seeded Uxbridge, and ending their season at 18-3.
Watertown and Uxbridge have lived parallel universes the past four years, with Watertown winning the State Div. 3 title four years in a row, and Uxbridge in Div. 4 accomplishing the exact same thing. During the summer, the MIAA, citing a relatively new rule under its competitive equity guidelines, targeted Uxbridge as a team with exceptional tournament success. This rule is designed to ensure a more balanced and competitive environment across all divisions. The Competitive Equity Modifier (CEM) allows the MIAA to shift from using enrollment as the sole determinant for divisional alignment to using a “competitive equity” formula. In summary, the Tournament Success Rule for certain sports, like field hockey where Uxbridge has won multiple state championships, allows the MIAA to rule that a team that consistently dominates its division must move up.
Well, Uxbridge indeed moved up and went 18-0 in the regular season, all while beating five Div. 1 schools along the way, including three of the four schools in this year’s D1 Final Four. They outscored opponents 120 to 8, and in three tournament wins leading up to last night, 26-0.
While not as dominant as past years, Watertown too had an excellent season at 15-2, and outscored opponents 94 to 11. Something had to give Wednesday night, with one team keeping their title streak aspirations alive.
Watertown and Uxbridge were scoreless for the first eleven minutes. The highlight for Watertown came 5 minutes in when Raider Goalkeeper Natalia Keuchkarian made a series of sprawling saves to keep the ball out of the cage. The freshman had barely been shot upon for three tournament games prior, but she was ready for this early onslaught. Uxbridge was awarded four penalty corners in the first period, and the fourth was a charm. Uxbridge would never trail, but a minute later, Watertown applied their best pressure of the night, and off a penalty corner of their own, Uxbridge’s goalie was called to make a series of big saves of her own to keep the score at 1-0.
Uxbridge started to impose their will in the second period, soring less than a minute in and again late in the half. Three to 0 with two periods to play is almost never an insurmountable hill to climb, but against this team it was. Uxbridge simply was a tick better in every way. Their stick handling was superb and creative. Their ball-striking powerful and precise. Their field vision and execution on the mark. They were dangerous with both their forehand and backhand. And, they possessed a certain determination, neither dirty or unsportsmanlike, but gritty and confident. So, when Uxbridge scored three more goals in the third period, and one more in the fourth, those goals were simply a means to getting to a final score.
But let’s not go overboard at the expense of the hometown Raiders. The past four years … past 22 titles … Coach Donahue’s past 40 years stewarding the program … they are neither tarnished nor diminished as a result of last night. Seniors Sophia Setouhi and Ava Lamacchia did themselves and the program proud, playing hard to the very end and serving as examples for the underclassmen responsible for moving the program forward next fall. Freshman goalie Keuchakarian picked up a field hockey for the first time this summer with the intent of trying to make the team in the field, yet unselfishly took on the goalie position when depth became an issue, and turned into a number one goalie to be reckoned with if she sticks with the position. She had a great game Wednesday night, regardless of seven goals allowed
And the roster is full of potential and growth, thanks to the likes of Venezia, L., Venezia, G., Hike, Master, Prestash, MacKenzie, Donohue, Brennock, O’Connor, Anderson, Foley and those who will challenge to make the team in ’26. And hopefully, the program will continue to reward itself and its followers under the guidance of Coach Donahue.
As T. Roosevelt said, Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure … That certainly describes Watertown Field Hockey at this moment. The only thing I’d change ever so slightly is this — Watertown didn’t fail last night, in my opinion. They got beat by a better team, plain and simple. While never fun to lose, sometimes after doing so you simply have to give credit where credit is due, and then get back to work so that the result is different next time around.
Uxbridge will take on No. 3 seed Sandwich for the Div. 3 Title on Saturday.
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1 2 3 4 – F
Watertown 0 0 0 0 – 0
Uxbridge 1 2 3 1 – 7
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1st Period
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 1… Goal at 11:00
2nd Period
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 2… Goal at :48
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 3… Goal at 13:54
3rd Period
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 4… Goal at 3:17
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 5… Goal at 9:35
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 6… Goal 11:16
4th Period
Watertown 0, Uxbridge 7… Goal 4:30