The Watertown High field hockey team didn't get the day off yesterday as rumored in the postgame celebration following Wednesday's Division 2 state semifinal victory over Canton.
But given the stakes involved with their next - and final - contest of a 23-game season, the Raiders probably didn't mind hitting the Waltham High turf yesterday, nor will they mind today despite some expected rain. If it means they will be that much sharper in tomorrow's state championship game against Oakmont Regional (Worcester State College, 1 p.m.), it will be worth it.
``We had to prepare,'' Watertown coach Eileen Donahue said of the practice session. ``(Oakmont) is a strong team. It was a little light for a practice given that we played the night before. We were just trying to refine some things on both ends of the field.''
The carefully cultivated attack has taken on many different faces as the Raiders have worked their way through four state tournament contests. They came out firing on all cylinders offensively in a 7-1 romp over Wilmington in the tourney opener at Waltham, then went with a concentration on defense in the second half of a 5-0 victory over Newburyport. Watertown had to come from behind with two goals in the final seven minutes of a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Manchester in the Division 2 North final on Sunday before they survived a tense, closely contested game against host Canton in a 1-0 victory Wednesday night.
Against Oakmont (17-1-3), the Raiders face a squad that has scored 23 goals in five tourney games and is coming off a 4-1 victory over Smith Academy in its state semifinal on Tuesday.
``I know that they're very intense and aggressive,'' Donahue said. ``They have strong stick-handlers on their team. We'll have to counter that.''
Donahue said she saw Oakmont during its 6-1 victory over Hopedale in the Division 2 Central title game. That was likely all the ammunition she needed to convince her squad not to take anything for granted with one step to go before the program secures its first state championship since 2002.
``You hope they can make the adjustments on the spot,'' Donahue said. ``As good as Oakmont is, you can't predict what's going to happen. They are a very strong team and very aggressive. They haven't let up many goals. Against Hopedale, they scored three goals in five minutes, so you have to be able to counter that.''
The strength of the Raiders throughout the season has been their balance from end line to end line. Seniors Emily Sideris and Kelsey Prendergast have played both offensive and defensive positions this season to lend help wherever needed on the junior-dominated squad. Juniors Katie Carlson, Bianca Jones and Jessica Doggett have set up the attack both in the circle and the midfield, while junior Kaylee McNamara has been a consistent force on defense and also scored the tying goal against Manchester.
Sophomore Lauren Giordano has been a two-year starter up front, while sophomore Erika Kelly had done a dramatic back-and-forth between goaltending and the attack. Against Manchester, she played the first 45 minutes of the game in net before switching into a field uniform during a timeout and assisting on McNamara's tying goal with seven minutes left, then scoring the game-winner with 15 seconds on the clock.
Freshmen Lauren Sutherland and Alyssa Carlson have both made an impact, juniors Michelle Poirier and Julia Tolman have provided a situational lift, and sophomore Kayla Costa had the shutout in net against the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
The running theme has been that everyone is willing to do anything necessary for the greater good of the team during the playoffs.
``They have been very energetic in practice and working hard,'' Donahue said. ``Hopefully, they'll lay it out on the line again (tomorrow).''
Although Watertown is a storied program with nine state championships, the last of the titles came in the back-to-back championships of 2001 and 2002. That means some of the younger members of the squad were only 6 or 7 years old when the likes of Anita Anastasi, Nicole Bryant, Stephanie Colantonio, Meaghan Dorsi, Angela Falco, Alexandra Quinn, Jaclyn Quinn, Kayla Romanelli, Mary Rogers, Caroline Vo, Christine Woodland and Sara York last celebrated on the Worcester State turf over the two-year span.
``They haven't won one, but they have been part of many (Middlesex League and North Sectional) championship teams,'' Donahue noted. ``That, in itself, is huge for them to be able to continue the success of the program. Those have been huge accomplishments too. Hopefully, they'll work even harder to get another one.''
Then Sunday really will be a day off.
Perhaps the most enjoyable one they've ever experienced.
(Scott Souza is a Daily News staff writer. He can be reached at 781-398-8006 or ssouza@cnc.com.)
