Raiders Bulletin Board

10/9/2012Raiders tie Reading, stand at 6-1-6

The Watertown High boys soccer team missed a penalty kick with just three minutes left in the game resulting in a 1-1 tie at Reading on Columbus Day.
"The boys were really disappointed," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said. "They felt they should have won this game."
Junior midfielder Juan Nieto Lopez, who eventually missed the penalty kick that would of given the locals a 2-1 advantage, did, convert on his first scoring chance in the game. Lopez buried a 12-yard shot past the Rocket keeper to open the scoring in the first half.
Lopez actually had to score twice as his first attempt was called back when a Raider went inside the penalty area.
"His first shot (that got called back) went by the keeper's left side," Cacia said. "When he had to take the shot over again I think he fooled the keeper and beat him on the right side of the net."
The Rockets tied the game with 13 minutes left and that's how it ended. Once again, the Raiders out possessed an opponent but had to settle for just one point.
"We carried the play but we didn't create many scoring chances in the first half," Cacia said. "We did a better job of creating chances in the second half but still couldn't score."
Watertown's overall record now stands at 6-1-6, meaning they have clinched at least a .500 season with five regular season games left.
"If you look at our record negatively you can say we have only won half of our games," Cacia said. "On the other side of the coin we have only lost one game out of 13 which is pretty good."
Watertown's next scheduled game is Thursday October 11 at Filippello Park against visiting Wakefield. The Raiders, however, are trying to do get the game changed to Saturday afternoon (October 13) at Victory Field where the turf field will allow much better playing conditions.
"Right now I'm just waiting to hear back from their Athletic Director," Cacia said.

Read more: Boys Soccer: Raiders tie Reading, stand at 6 – 1 – 6 - Watertown, MA - Watertown TAB http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown/news/x1131679603/Boys-Soccer-Raiders-tie-Reading-stand-at-6-1-6#ixzz28r1Q9avR

10/5/2012Raiders rack up another tie vs. Lexington

A late second half Lexington goal allowed the Minutemen to escape with a point in a 1-1 tie with Watertown on Thursday.

The visiting Raiders took a 1-0 lead when senior captain Raffi Chilingaryan converted on a direct free kick for the lone first half goal before Lexington was able to get the equalizer with just 15 minutes left in the game.

"It was a tough goal," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said of the Lexington tally that tied the game. "A shot deflected off of one of our player's back shoulder and found its way into the net. But in the end a point on the road against a good Middlesex League team is a good accomplishment. We will take it."

Lexington came into the game in second place in the Middlesex League Large standings so Cacia was pretty pleased with the overall effort.

"I thought we played very well after they tied the game," Cacia said. "We created some chances late and almost came away with the win. The funny thing about this game was that they outplayed us in the first half and we scored the goal and we outplayed them in the second half and they scored the goal."

With the tie the Raiders went to 6-1-5 overall for a total of 17 points. They will play next Columbus Day morning at Reading.

9/29/2012Watertown Raiders record fourth tie of the season

The Watertown High boys soccer team had to settle for a disappointing tie after giving up a late goal to visiting Melrose on Saturday (Sept. 29). The resulting 1-1 final was the Raiders fourth tie of the year.

"We outshot them and possessed the ball a lot more than they did," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said after the game. "It is the same old story for us. We just can't seem to build a comfortable lead when we should be. This was really disappointing because we only gave up one shot."

After a scoreless first half, the Raiders went up a goal early in the second when senior midfielder Juan Nieto-Lopez knocked one in off a pass from junior Rafael DeSouza.

Melrose late in the game snuck the equalizer past Raider junior keeper Greg Koutroukas.

"We just seemed a little too comfortable in this game," Cacia said. "In soccer anything can happen so you got to put the opponent away when you get the chance. We didn't do that."

Nonetheless, the Raiders, who gave up just their first goal in a home game this season, still have a very good 5-1-4 overall record. They will next play at home on Tuesday against the Woburn Tanners.

9/27/2012Raiders bounce back with win over Burlington

Following their first loss of the year last Friday, in which the Watertown High boys soccer allowed their first goal of this season, the Red Raiders responded with a 3-1 win at Burlington on Monday.

"This was a real character builder for us," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said. "After last Friday I said our next game would be a test of how much character our team has and the boys showed what they are made of."

After carrying the play for most of the first half the Raiders still found themselves scoreless until Burlington netted the first goal at the 29 minute mark. The Raiders, however, would tie the game just seven minutes later to go into the intermission tied at 1-1.

Junior forward Vardan Yeghiyan put away the equalizer on a feed from senior Vahram Sardaryan.

"That was a real big goal," Cacia said. "It would have been disheartening to go into halftime trailing when we were outplaying them."

The Raiders built on Yeghiyan's goal when sophomore forward Rafael DeSouza scored the eventual game winner on a pass from senior midfielder Shayan Avanessian (2 assists) 13 minutes into the second half. Sardaryan put the game away with his team's third goal of the contest with just two minutes left in the second half.

Junior goalie Greg Koutroukas made seven saves in the win.

"Greg came up really big for us too," Cacia added. "When we were winning 2-1 he made an unbelievable diving save that could of turned this game around."

Watertown, 4-1-3 overall, will play at Bishop Fenwick on Thursday September 27 in a non-league affair.

9/23/2012Watertown falls to Stoneham in first loss

It had to happen sometime.

In their seventh game of the season (Friday, Sept. 21), the Watertown High boys soccer team finally gave up a goal to the opposition after recording six straight shutouts. The Watertown squad were shutout in the 2-0 loss to the Stoneham Spartans in Stoneham.

"I thought we once again controlled the game," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said. "But we didn't score on our chances while they did."

After a scoreless first half the Raiders defense yielded their first tally of the season ten minutes into the second stanza. The Spartans were able to double their lead with 15 minutes left in the half to provide the final score.

"Stoneham just showed more effort than we did in the second half," Cacia said. "It was that simple. I know because Stoneham has a smaller field it restricts some of the plays we can make on offense but I told the boys there is no excuses and that we were beaten fair and square."

Watertown (3-1-3, 2-1-3 in Middlesex League) will try to right the ship Monday September 24 at Burlington.

"Maybe finally giving up a goal is a blessing in disguise," Cacia said. "It may be a relief to get it over with but we'll see what type of character this team has when we play on Monday.

9/17/2012Raiders clinch tournament berth with win over AC

Only five games into the season, the Watertown Boys Soccer squad has accomplished an impressive goal, qualifying for the post-season playoffs. Equally as impressive, the Raiders have yet to give up a single goal this season.

On Friday, Sept. 14, the Raiders played at Victory Field Friday, coming away with a 3-0 win over Division Three Arlington Catholic.

The Raiders clinched at least a .500 record in D-3 play, automatically giving them a post-season berth. More impressively Watertown stands at 3-0-2 on the year.

"The defense continues to play great and (senior midfielder) Raffi Chilingaryan continues to dominate the midfield," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said. "It's tough to score on us when we have that combination going."

Watertown, who has now outscored opponents 10-0 on the season, jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Arlington 37 minutes into the first half when junior forward Vardan Yeghiyan capitalized on an assist from senior defender Shant Vosbigian.

In the second half Watertown stretched the lead to two when Yeghiyan scored his second goal of the game on a feed from senior Juan Nieto Lopez. Soon after, junior midfielder Camille Sheehan put the contest out of reach converting on an assist from sophomore Rafael DeSouza.

"We played very well," Cacia said. "But I thought we kept this team around for a while because we missed out on a lot of scoring chances including a penalty kick."

Nonetheless the Raiders, who outshot the Cougars 20-3, had more than enough firepower to get the two points.

Watertown, 2-0-2 in Middlesex League play, will take on another team with the same identical league record when they host Wilmington Tuesday night at Filippello Park.

9/7/2012Raiders blank Belmont in season opener

It was quite the opening day for the Watertown High boys soccer squad as they cruised to a 4-0 win over rival Belmont on Wednesday (Sept. 5) at Victory Field.

"This could be a coming out party type of season for this team," Watertown head coach Frank Cacia said after the win. "The boys really came to play this year and to tell you the truth I was not surprised that we were able to win this game. The boys prepared themselves in the off-season and really played well in the pre-season. I really think we can surprise a lot of folks this year."

Watertown opened up the scoring 18 minutes into the first half when sophomore forward Raffi DeSouza (goal, assist) scored on a pass from junior Vardan Yegyihan. The Raiders struck again seven minutes later when junior forward Varham Sardaryan converted on a helper from DeSouza.

Sardaryan promptly scored his second goal of the game just four minutes later to put the up three at the break.

"I was able to put in a lot of substitutes in the second half," Cacia noted. "And we still played very well in that half."

The Raiders rounded out the scoring at the 69-minute mark when Yeghiyan (goal, assist) found the net on a feed from junior midfielder Camille Sheehan.

Meanwhile junior goalie Koutroukas stirred aside all five shots that came his way to preserve the shutout in a memorable opening day.

"I know Belmont lost a lot of seniors but we only had three seniors start ourselves," Cacia said. "This was still a very good win for us and our guys deserve a lot of credit. They controlled the game the entire way. The biggest difference that I see so far this year is that our mental aspect of the game has changed dramatically. The kids seem to be a lot more focused. It has paid off right away because, I think, it has been eight years since we last beat Belmont. This was a special victory."

With a big win to start the season, Watertown, who went 7-8-3 in the regular season in 2011, has shown that they have every intention of improving on last year’s record this fall. They have their sights set on winning the Middlesex League Small but their schedule has them playing their first three games against tougher Middlesex League Large teams. They passed the first test against Belmont on Wednesday and will hope to pass the second test when they host Arlington on Saturday afternoon (1:30 P.M.)

"Like I said this was a great win and it was great for our confidence but we can't be complacent," Cacia added. "We got some very tough teams coming up."

7/24/2012Hello!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer break. I know that you are all working extremely hard to prepare for our upcoming season. I can't wait to get started on the 8/23! Last season we took some positive steps in the right direction and won our first tournament game in some time. I look forward to building on those successes. How amazing would it be to host at least one MIAA tournament game under the lights in our new state of the art complex @ Victory Field. There is no doubt we have the talent and work ethic to make that a reality. Our ultimate goal is to win a state championship, why not make that happen sooner than later. I look forward to seeing you on the 23rd!

Coach

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