Watertown Downs Oakmont to Claim its Fourth Straight Field Hockey State Title

A young Raiders team peaked at the right time, defeating Oakmont 1-0 on Saturday and Watertown collected a fourth straight MIAA Div. 2 State Field Hockey championship.

Watertown sophomore Emily Loprete provided all the offense that the Raiders would need in the rematch of last year's state final with a goal less than 8 minutes into the game. 

"I got a tip on it. It was a pass from Lauren (Sutherland), a hard shot," Lopete said. "It really helped (the team). It was key because it was in the beginning (of the game), so it felt very good."

While the Raiders kept the Spartans off the board, it was not easy. Oakmont had a couple good scoring chances at the end of the first half.

"It was nice we were able to hold that off," Donohue said. "Our goalie (sophomore Maddie Rocklin) made some beautiful plays, (she played) very aggressively."

The win also extended Watertown's unbeaten streak to 93 games over the last four years.

"I haven’t lost a game in high school, we're 93-0-2," said Sutherland, a senior co-captain for the Raiders.

Donohue said she and her coaching staff had a lot of teaching to do through the year, with a team that had only three senior starters. Eventually, things gelled.

"I’ll admit to you, it was very overwhelming. And our little experience we had, our two captains, Alyssa Carlson and Lauren Sutherland, stuck it out as well, and played through it and eventually things came," Donohue said. "It took a long time by the last couple games of the tournament our team started to peak. I wish it came sooner, but that’s OK, I’ll take it."

Donohue did not make one substitution in the game, and said she knew her team could last.

"We run them and we run them, and there is a reason we run them - to be in a situation like this," Donohue said. 

After the game, Donohue could reflect on the season, which brought a perfect 22-0 record, a 20th North Section title and a 13th state championship. 

"It’s a wonderful feeling. I’m very proud of all of these girls, and the coaches," Donohue said. "It was a brand new program at the beginning of the year, as every year is. From preseason, the way we looked, to the way we finished - it’s just amazing. I am very proud of them."