It’s been a disappointing season for the Watertown High girls’ soccer team, but in an exciting Senior Night matchup at Victory Field, the Raiders rallied from an early deficit to earn an impressive result against Melrose.

As one final tribute was paid to their seniors, the Raiders showed quite a bit of determination in their final game of the season. Junior Hannah Cook, sophomore Sidar Akisik, and senior Becky Riendeau all tallied goals as the Raiders fought their way back after being down 2-0 early.

A late Melrose goal, however, kept the Raiders from snatching their first win of the season, as Watertown played arguably their best game of the year in a 3-3 draw.

Melrose jumped out to the lead when junior Muna Asia scored 12 minutes in, as the ball dropped to the Melrose forward after a scramble in front of goal and she calmly put the ball in the back of the net from 10 yards out.

The lead was doubled just over five minutes later when Melrose senior Jacqueline Pereira appeared to attempt to float a cross into the penalty area, but it found its way into the Raider net, sneaking under the crossbar and making the score 2-0. The visitors nearly scored a third goal, but Watertown freshman Gabby Cacia cleared the ball off the goal line to save the Raiders.

Watertown badly needed a goal before halftime and Cook delivered. A poor Melrose clearance led to the ball rolling out of the box, and the junior midfielder hit a perfect one-timer, curling a beautiful effort into the corner of the net, leaving senior goalkeeper Shaylyn McCarthy without a chance to make a save. The Raiders went into the half down only 2-1, with the momentum on their side.

They jumped on that momentum right out of the break. Cook played the ball down the left sideline to junior Amanda Cardoso, who played it through to Akisik, who was all alone with the Melrose keeper. Akisik easily buried it, and the game was even at 2-2 just five minutes into the second half.

Cook almost added her second goal from long range a few minutes later, but her 25 yard shot floated inches over the crossbar.

It was nearly a storybook ending for the Raiders when junior Sarah Lampasona took a corner kick that found Riendeau, who headed it home with 20 minutes to go to put Watertown up, 3-2.

Unfortunately for this Watertown team, the Raiders couldn’t hang on as a spinning shot that appeared to be bouncing wide took a wild bounce into the goal, and it was 3-3 with 10 minutes remaining.

Neither side could find the winner in the final minutes, and it finished 3-3, a great result for a squad that played, arguably, its best game of the season.

–Oct. 30, 2014–