WATERTOWN – Belmont offered an enormous scare, however tally one other mark within the historical past books for the Watertown area hockey program.
By staving off six Marauders offensive corners within the second half – together with a possible game-tying alternative on expired time on the finish of regulation – the Raiders (3-0) narrowly clung to a 2-1 Middlesex League crossover win Tuesday evening for the legendary program’s a centesimal straight victory.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins for the four-time defending Div. 3 state champs, nevertheless it was simply sufficient to beat standout opposing performances from stars Mackenzie Clarke and Elsie Lakin-Schultz as Belmont (2-1) rallied.
Aisling Brennock and Kaylee Grasp scored the targets within the first half for Watertown, whereas Natalia Keuchikarian notched six saves within the win.
No different program in MIAA area hockey historical past has ever received 100 straight video games. After additionally profitable 124 straight of their national-record 184-game unbeaten streak, the Raiders have now finished it twice.
“It’s not about me, clearly it’s about all these gamers that obtained to that,” mentioned longtime head coach Eileen Donahue, who emphasised a few instances that reaching 100 straight wasn’t her focus. “I’m going to offer it to all my gamers, not simply this group. They discovered a method (at present), however we have been very lucky (to win). All people’s set to work onerous for it, and all of the gamers which have gone by way of my program know that. (The streak) is only a quantity, I simply need to win the sport, I’m not centered on the rest.”
That fortune got here early for Watertown halfway by way of the primary quarter, as a strike from across the offensive 25 rolled by way of open house towards the online and not using a contact contained in the circle. Belmont goalie Zoe Bruce stepped apart to let the ball roll previous the objective line for what could be dominated a non-goal, however as a substitute, it hit off the publish. Brennock crashed on the rebound to bury a 1-0 lead.
The Raiders battled to maintain Belmont off the board into the second quarter, and managed play for a lot of that second body to restrict the Marauders’ assault. After Watertown drew its first offensive nook halfway by way of the second, Grasp cashed in with a tough drive by way of site visitors for a 2-0 benefit.
Belmont confirmed no give up, although, and flipped the sphere within the remaining two minutes of the half to arrange a nook alternative. Lakin-Schultz ripped her shot into the again board to chop the deficit to 2-1 with 13.8 seconds left.
That new life fueled a vicious rally try after the break – beginning with a nook alternative within the first two minutes. Clarke’s missile of a reverse chip was saved by Keuchikarian, which was the primary of 4 massive saves she’d want within the quarter.
Lakin-Schultz, Mia Smith and Clarke anchored a well-rounded effort to maintain making use of the offensive stress for the Marauders. Watertown, although, stored scrapping sufficient collectively contained in the circle to forestall a game-tying objective, whereas speedy senior captain Sophia Setouhi and Grasp led a pair promising prices into offensive territory.
Neither group was capable of capitalize, although Belmont got here shut with a ball despatched into the circle that it felt it obtained a tip on earlier than it rolled into the objective with about three minutes left – nevertheless it was waved off for no tip. The Marauders rushed to attract yet one more nook alternative as regulation expired, however couldn’t get the shot on track.
“Issues didn’t all the time fall the correct method for us at present, however we didn’t cease making an attempt the entire time,” mentioned Belmont head coach Jess Smith. “We performed onerous, we have been in it the entire time, and I actually felt prefer it might’ve gone both method. … However good for (Donahue). She deserves it. If there’s ever a coach who coaches effectively and has wonderful technique, it’s her.”
Donahue echoed the sentiment of how effectively Belmont performed, saying a number of instances in postgame conversations that it very effectively might have received as a substitute.
“Let’s simply say we have been very lucky,” she mentioned. “Particularly in that second half, (Belmont) out-played us. … We’ve obtained to step it up.”
That is the one matchup of the 12 months between the groups, which suggests it’s the ultimate time Donahue must coach towards her niece – the UConn-bound Clarke. She obtained emotional when speaking about what it’s been wish to face her nieces over time.
“I’m very completely happy I don’t should play towards (one other) niece for a lot of, many, a few years,” Donahue mentioned. “I’ve needed to play towards – two of them performed for Winchester, one other one from Belmont as effectively, and Mackenzie. So, no extra of that, that’s so much to cope with as a result of I help each single one in all them. And he or she performed her coronary heart out on the market, and he or she performed so effectively.”
