WAKEFIELD — By incomes a 7-0 Middlesex League win towards Wakefield within the common season finale on Thursday, make it 750 profession wins and counting for longtime Watertown head coach Eileen Donahue.
Molly Driscoll’s hat trick within the first quarter kicked off a milestone-filled night time for the Raiders (17-0), extending their win streak to 70 video games and their national-record shutout streak to 37.
All seven objectives got here within the first 9 minutes of play, however no spotlight stood taller than Donahue reaching a win whole simply 5 different coaches within the nation have earlier than her. In 38 years of teaching, she is now 750-34-36 with 20 state titles.
Only former Nauset and Harwich/Monomoy head coach Cheryl Poore additionally has 700-plus wins in Massachusetts.
“I am proud of all the players that I coached, the coaches and the community for supporting us,” Donahue stated. “We just had the superintendent come to our game for this moment. That really says a lot. It’s been a lot of hard work doing this, but you get kids to buy in all these years and have coaches support you – it’s a big thing. Just proud of everyone that played a role in this win, which is a lot of people.”
A nook led to Driscoll’s first purpose, only one:02 into the sport. The Warriors (6-10-2) stacked the circle and cleared a few harmful bids, however relentlessness helped Driscoll rating twice extra for her thirteenth hat trick of the 12 months throughout the first 5 minutes.
It was solely becoming she scored every of the primary three objectives in Donahue’s 750th win, having been on the workforce for all 70 wins over the past 4 years.
“Obviously we wanted to do this for Ms. Donahue and for the past teams, and obviously for us with all the work we’ve put in all season,” Driscoll stated. “It definitely means a lot to not just be a part of it, but also to add to it. … I’m just glad to say that I could contribute.”
Rachel Egan chipped in a pair of objectives, Adrianna Williams additionally scored, and Regan Driscoll added a purpose and help.
Egan’s second purpose got here with 6:39 left within the first quarter, resulting in no extra photographs on web from Watertown because it performed keep-away. Wakefield obtained the ball to the Watertown circle twice and drew one nook, although the Raiders prevented any photographs to protect a protracted shutout streak that dates again to the third common season recreation of final 12 months.
Breaking that nationwide file for shutouts drew far more focus from the gamers than extending the win streak to 70 video games. Attention is on successful each recreation they will: Milestones come consequently.
That mentality is certain to assist Watertown in its bid to three-peat because the state match begins subsequent week. But that doesn’t imply the Raiders received’t have a good time milestones and the workforce was certain to get flowers, a “750” balloon and cake to current to Donahue afterward.
Donahue is grateful for all of the gamers to got here via a program that additionally has the Massachusetts-record of 20 state titles, in addition to nationwide information for consecutive wins (124) and video games unbeaten (184). She additionally thinks of her household, particularly her late father Jack Donahue as her teaching affect.
“He would be just as proud because he’d be on the 50-yard-line, watching the games,” Donahue stated. “He was with me from the beginning, he’s always going to be with me no matter what.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com