Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Field Hockey Runs Into A Dominant Opponent in the State Div. 3 Semifinal

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Watertown field hockey players Kaylee Master, Ava Lamacchia, and Lola Venezia defend against Uxbridge in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament Semifinal. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

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

The Watertown field hockey team lines up before the 2025 State Semifinal against Uxbridge. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

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.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Field Hockey Punches Its Ticket to The Div. 3 Final Four In a Thriller

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Watertown celebrates Sophia Setouhi’s go ahead goal in the State Tourney Round of 8 at Medfield on Saturday. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

MEDFIELD — You almost always know when a game has “it.” That special excitement and intensity and competition. Saturday at 1 p.m. was one of those days, as the fifth seeded Raiders took on the fourth seeded Medfield Warriors at Medfield High School. The winner would earn the right to play the No. 1 seed Uxbridge in the Final Four next week.  

On a sunny and unseasonably pleasant afternoon, with players all in shirtsleeves, Medfield relished the opportunity to knock off the four-time defending state champs and earn a hallmark win for the program. They looked ready to fulfill that dream when in the first minute of play Medfield, who put the ball in play to start the game, stormed down the field and immediately put the Raiders on their heels.

Sports

JIM’s VIEW: Don’t Let the Score Fool You, Watertown Dominates in Tourney and Advances to Elite 8

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Watertown junior Kaylee Master scored two goals in the State Tournament Round of 16 Tuesday against Gloucester. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

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. Watertown senior Ava Lamacchia shoots at the Gloucester net in the State Tournament game at Victory Field. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

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. 

Senior Sophia Setouhi fights for the ball against Gloucester in the Round of 16 game.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Begins Defense of Div. 3 State Title With a Strong Performance vs. Swampscott

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Watertown sophomore Ave Anderson, right, celebrates scoring against Swampsott in the State Tournament Round of 32 at Victory Field on Wednesday. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown Field Hockey knows who they are and what is expected of them. When they lose (and that’s rarely) it’s big news. If they win, but by only a certain margin, it’s news. When they give up a goal, for goodness sake, it’s news. It’s an understatement that the weight of expectation is heavy. But you would never guess that it affects those who put on the uniform and play for Coach Eileen Donohue. They simply buy in and practice hard and play hard and believe that they will be rewarded for the commitment and the sweat and the effort.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Wins Their Final Regular Season Home Game in Dominant Fashion

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Another beautiful Fall day at Victory Field brought out some lovely play from the Raiders field hockey team on Oct. 23, as they thoroughly controlled this game from start to finish, winning their final regular season home game 7-0. Just a minute in a wicked slapper from 15 yards out by Kaylee Master made it 1-0. Less than three minutes later senior co-captain Sophia Setouhi, who was flying around the field on this day, made it 2-0 after some nifty moves. Freshman Lola Venezia finished the first period scoring on a rebound shot that got past the Burlington goalkeeper to make it 3-0 after one period. Now, it should be said that the Burlington goalie was impressive throughout the half, coming aggressively out of her goalie crease, anticipating plays and trying to cut off angles to potential shots on goal.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Field Hockey Celebrates Senior Day With a 4-0 Victory

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Thank you. Thanks for your dedication to the program. Thanks for contributing to four straight State titles. That’s what Thursday was about as Watertown’s Field Hockey program recognized their seniors prior to taking on Arlington at Victory Field. This year’s roster has only two seniors, co-captains Ava Lamacchia and Sophia Setouhi. Ava plays defense and Sophia is a forward, and like so many others who have passed through the program in recent years, they have contributed in so many ways, and enjoyed the ultimate fruits of their labor — championships. This season has been a bit different than recent years, if for no other reason than the Raiders have lost — twice. But, their ultimate fate is far from being determined, and Coach Donahue will make sure each player gets the best out of themselves. On this day, Watertown was clearly the best team, as they controlled the play from start to finish, never allowing a shot on freshman goalie Natalia Keuchkarian. What the Raiders did do is pressure the Arlington goalie. And, as has been the case in one or two other games this season, an opposing goalie stood on her head, making save after save, some of the spectacular variety, and that kept the final score at a modest 4-0.

Sports

Watertown Grad, Westfield St. Field Hockey Player Earns D3 National Player of the Week Honor

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The following announcement was provided by Westfield State Athletics:

Earlier this week, Westfield State first-year forward Caroline Andrade (Watertown, Mass./Watertown HS) was named as the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s national Offensive Player of the Week for NCAA Division III for the week ending October 5. Andrade tallied five goals and three assists in a 3-0 week for the Owls, and has been a major factor in the Owls current eight-game winning streak. “I was excited,” said Andrade, on learning of the award. “But I think it’s’ really about the team connecting,  more of a team effort and seeing passes.”

Andrade missed the first six games of the 2025 season for the Owls when an injury she suffered during high school basketball flared up before the start of the season. Andrade came off the bench in her first two games in the lineup for the Owls, scoring shootout in a overtime win against Johnson and Wales before being inserted into the starting lineup. “I was a little rough and rusty at first, and it was difficult not knowing exactly how my teammates played even though I had been watching all season,” said Andrade.