Second Straight Section Title for Watertown Boys' Soccer Team

Watertown battled a stout Bedford team, but the Raiders found a way to win their second straight MIAA Div. 3 North Section title Sunday at Manning Field in Lynn.

Both teams had trouble getting their offense going, and late in the first half the game was scoreless. Watertown pushed the ball into the Bedford penalty area and got a penalty shot when the ball hit one of the Bedford players in the hand.

Watertown's Vardan Yeghiyan calmly stepped up and booted the ball in the lower right corner to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. 

Watertown coach Frank Cacia said his senior striker has done that before, including last year when he made the fifth shot in a do-or-die penalty shootout. 

The lead held up, but Bedford did not go quietly. Bedford senior forward Michael Dushman and his teammates put pressure on Watertown's goal. Just minutes from the final whistle, Watertown goalie Gregory Koutroukas made a big save.

"He made a big save at the end. A huge save," Cacia said. "The ball was going into bottom left corner and he sprawled out and made a one handed save."

The danger was not over until one of the Watertown defenders booted the ball out of the area while standing on the goal line.

For the second year in a row the Raiders captured the North Section final. The games will just get harder, Cacia said. 

"We're running into a very good Medway team, who went to the state final in Div. 2 last year," Cacia said. "They dropped down to Div. 3 this year. They're the team to beat. We’re going to have our hands full, but I'm just happy we live to play another day.

Watertown improved its record to 17-2-2 and Bedford finishes at 14-6-2. The game is Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. back at Manning Field.