Sean Browne
Watertown field hockey team celebrate after defeating Auburn 5-0 in the state final at WPI on Sunday.
Which is bigger – 6 or 138? Both are impressive when it comes to the Watertown High School field hockey team.
Sunday, the Raiders rolled over Auburn 5-0 to win the state championship for the sixth year in a row. The win also extends the team’s unbeaten streak to 138 games.
Watertown’s streak is becoming stuff of legends. Coach Eileen Donahue and her Raiders are closing in on the all-time national unbeaten streak of 153, held by Vorhee’s Eastern High School in New Jersey. Watertown would tie the streak if it can remain unbeaten through the 15th game in 2015 and break the record in the 16th game.
Watertown last lost in 2008 to Hopkinton, 3-2, in the state semifinal. During the streak they have only been tied twice – once in 2009 and most recently in October 2011 when the Raiders tied Wilmington 1-1. By my calculations, that puts Watertown’s winning streak at 78 games.
Along with the streak, the team added to Watertown’s already crowded trophy cabinet. This year’s Raiders won the program’s 15th state title and its 22nd North Section title.
Another impressive number is zero – as in the number of goals Watertown allowed this season. Donahue stresses defense to her team, whether they are defenders, midfielders or attackers.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown loses some experienced seniors after the sixth straight state title. Emily Loprete, middle, scored three goals Sunday, Allie Doggett, left, scored once and Rachel Campbell, right, also scored against Auburn.
After not losing a starter from the 2013 squad, Watertown this year will lose five starters to graduation – co-captains Emily Loprete and Allie Doggett, along with Rachel Campbell, Keegan Duguay and goalie Madeline Rocklin-Waltch. Najmul Khan also graduates.
Loprete – who will be playing next year at Holy Cross – scored three goals Sunday, and making her state final total four. She scored the lone goal in Watertown’s 2012 victory over Oakmont.
There is plenty of experience coming back, however, including juniors Mikayla Paone, Ally McCall, Michaela Antonellis, Christa Knell and sophomore Kourtney Kennedy. All of these players started most or all of the past two years.
Sean Browne
Watertown sophomore Kourtney Kennedy is one of the many starters returning next year as the Raiders’ field hockey team seek to set the national unbeaten record.