Charlie Breitrose
Watertown field hockey captains Michaela Antonellis, right, and Ally McCall, center lift the North Section championship trophy with junior Kourtney Kennedy lending a hand.
On a day where the wind chill dipped temperatures into the 30s and snowflakes could be seen, the Watertown High School field hockey team came out red hot – defeating Manchester-Essex 4-0 for the MIAA Div. 2 North Section championship.
The matchup was billed as a tough one for the seven-time defending state champs – and a threat to the team’s record unbeaten streak. The Hornets (17-2-2) came off wins of 5-0 and 3-1 behind the goal scoring of Robert Carter (yes, a boy on the girls’ field hockey team).
Just four minutes into the game at North Andover High School, however, Watertown sophomore Sydney Poulin jumped on a ball that popped in the air, and batted it down into the Manchester-Essex net.
“It was a great pass from my teammate,” Poulin said. “It was a corner. It had a slow ball coming back and we were covered, it popped up and I was right there.”
Charlie Breitrose
The Raiders celebrate a goal by sophomore Sydney Poulin, No. 10, that gave Watertown the early lead in the section final against Manchester-Essex.
Five minutes later, senior Christa Knell pounced on a pass and drove it past goalie Caleigh Cunningham to put the Raiders up 2-0.
With seven minutes left in the first half, Poulin collected a pass from senior co-captain Michaela Antonellis and scored her second of the day. The two tallies pleased Watertown Head Coach Eileen Donahue.
“It’s nice to see, every game, sometimes different people step up,” Donahue said.
Charlie Breitrose
Ally McCall and the rest of the Raiders kept Manchester-Essex’s Robert Carter, left, off the board in the North Section final.
In the second half, Carter and the Manchester-Essex offense started hitting high gear. The Hornets generated some quality opportunities and shots that tested Watertown sophomore goalie Jonna Kennedy. In one sequence, Manchester-Essex stormed down on a fast break, but Kennedy came way out and broke up the play using a stacked, two-pad leg save.
“For several minutes it was a great defensive stance from Jonna – and the whole team,” Donahue said.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior Christa Knell fires a ball into the Manchester-Essex goal for a first half goal.
There was another goal, but it came from Watertown. Senior Mikayla Paone scored by hitting a ball up high into the net from several yards out with 15 minutes left in the second half.
Watertown advances to the state semifinal on Tuesday at Canton High School. The Raiders (20-0) face Hanover (19-0-3), a 1-0 winner over Cohasset in double overtime in the South Section final. Game time has yet to be announced.
The Raiders have now won eight straight section titles and have gone 158 straight games without a loss.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown captain Michaela Antonellis leaps into the arm of her fellow captain Ally McCall after Watertown claimed the North Section title on Saturday.
Great work Raiders!