Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior co-captain Ally McCall shoots at the Hanover. She had two goal in the state semifinal win.
Led by two goals from senior co-captain Ally McCall, the Watertown field hockey team is headed back to Worcester for an eighth straight state final after beating Hanover Tuesday night.
The Raiders (21-0) struggled to find the back of the net in the first half of the state semifinal played on a frigid night at Canton High School. Hanover came in undefeated at 19-0-3 and posed a tough opponent, said Watertown Head Coach Eileen Donahue.
“This was a tough game. it was a very physical type of game,” Donahue said. “It was tough for us to make the adjustments to play through. Hanover is a champion and we had to have a championship type of play because you don’t get this far unless unless you play a top team.”
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown co-captain Michaela Antonellis, No. 3, scored the Raiders’ first goal in the 4-0 win over Hanover.
Senior co-captain Michaela Antonellis broke through with just under 18 minutes left in the first half. Antonellis passed the ball in off a corner, and she got the ball back from junior Kourtney Kennedy and put it past Hanover goalie Molly Cameron.
Watertown peppered Hanover with shots for the rest of the first half, but the lead remained 1-0 at halftime.
That quickly changed. McCall got her first goal less than two minutes into the second half.
“Her team play out there was very intense from the start, regardless if she scores or not,” Donahue said.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown sophomore Olivia Venezia, 15, celebrates after scoring against Hanover in the State Semifinal.
Sophomore Olivia Venezia increased the lead to 3-0 with 11 minutes left in the second half. Less than two minutes later, McCall collected her second. She took the ball at the top corner of the circle, took a few steps and then send a shot whizzing past the Hanover goalie.
Watertown’s final goal came from Kennedy with just minutes left in the game.
The Raiders head to Worcester on Saturday to take on Auburn in the Div. 2 State Final. The game will be played at WPI, and the time is yet to be announced. The Watertown unbeaten streak is now 159 games.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown junior Aurora Fidler dribbles through Hanover defenders in the state semifinal at Canton High School.