Murray stands tall in goal, but Sandwich falls to Watertown in Division 3 state final

André Simms, Cape Cod Times
·3 min read

NORWELL -- Saturday's MIAA Division 3 high school field hockey state championship was akin to a heavyweight title fight.

In the blue corner was the challenger - Sandwich. The No. 2 seed, hadn't lost all season. The Blue Knights entered having only conceded four goals all season, none of which came during their four-game tournament run to the final.

In the red corner, the defending champs - Watertown. The No. 1 seed hadn't lost a game since 2019. Like Sandwich, the Raiders also had not conceded a postseason goal and entered having only given up a single goal all season, in a win over newly crowned Division 1 state champions Andover.

More:The kids are all right: Sandwich's young stars lead Blue Knights to state semifinal win

Ultimately, the championship belt stayed in the same corner, as Watertown won, 2-0, at Norwell High.

NORWELL 11/19/22 Sandwich players console eash other beside their goal at game's end. Sandwich was shut out by Watertown 2-0 in the girls field hockey Div. 3 state final match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip
NORWELL 11/19/22 Sandwich players console eash other beside their goal at game's end. Sandwich was shut out by Watertown 2-0 in the girls field hockey Div. 3 state final match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip

Sandwich senior goalie Ava Murray hasn't faced many shots in her Blue Knights (20-1-1) career. Yes, she's only in her first year starting, but that fact is mainly based on how dominant the Blue Knights have been all season. She could be forgiven if she ever said she was bored in game, especially during Sandwich's postseason run. She didn't have to make a save until a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Swampscott.

That was not the case for the senior in the state-title game, but still, Murray repeatedly came up big for her team.

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"Ava saw so few shots in real games, of course she sees them in practice against us, but different than a game," Sandwich coach Kelsey Beaton said. "That was by far her best (performance)."

She made 11 saves in the title game, staying ready despite being a spectator at times throughout this postseason. Murray maximized her time in net for the Blue Knights, and her coach wishes she could have more of it.

NORWELL 11/19/22 Sandwich goalie Ava Murray watches a shot go wide defending her goal late in the second quarter as Sandwich and Watertown met in the girls field hockey state finals match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Watertown prevailed on a shut-out, 2-0. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip
NORWELL 11/19/22 Sandwich goalie Ava Murray watches a shot go wide defending her goal late in the second quarter as Sandwich and Watertown met in the girls field hockey state finals match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Watertown prevailed on a shut-out, 2-0. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip

"I just said to her, 'I feel robbed because I only got one year with you.' Usually with a goalie because so few kids play it, you get three years," Beaton said.

Beaton hailed the efforts of her whole defensive unit, and rightfully so. The Blue Knights withstood some heavy, and at times sustained, pressure from the Raiders (22-0), but never broke.

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The first goal came early in the third quarter, when a rifled pass into the circle was crucially deflected by Watertown senior Allie Fijux. The second came later in the third, and also required a deflection. Watertown sophomore Caroline Andrade received the ball from a corner, and her shot took a deflection off a Sandwich defender to beat Murray in goal.

NORWELL 11/19/22 The Sandwich cheering section erupts with applause as their team is introduced. Sandwich was shut out by Watertown 2-0 in the girls field hockey Div. 3 state final match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip
NORWELL 11/19/22 The Sandwich cheering section erupts with applause as their team is introduced. Sandwich was shut out by Watertown 2-0 in the girls field hockey Div. 3 state final match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip

"I think the girls played great. We're both extremely proud of what they were able to do today," assistant coach Jess Whittier said.

The loss is the second in a row in the state final for the Blue Knights, but even those departing the program, know that the team is headed in the right direction.

"Even our terrific captains (seniors Emily Souke and Hailey Lemire) crying their eyes out said, 'You guys are so young, you're going to do it next year,'" Beaton said.

The youth movement was front and center on this team all season and the State title game was no different. The Blue Knights started four freshmen (Quinn Jordan, Kyla Darmon, Abby Cotter, and Khloe Schultz) and eighth-grader Sadie Clarkin. Another freshman, Megan Dwyer, also saw significant time on the field.

NORWELL 11/19/22 Sandwich's Alivia Barnes knocks down an airball as Watertown's Maggie Driscoll moves in at left. Sandwich was shut out by Watertown 2-0 in the girls field hockey Div. 3 state final match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip
NORWELL 11/19/22 Sandwich's Alivia Barnes knocks down an airball as Watertown's Maggie Driscoll moves in at left. Sandwich was shut out by Watertown 2-0 in the girls field hockey Div. 3 state final match played at Norwell HS on Saturday. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip

Add up the existing success, and a young foundation, and you get a team that's best days still lie ahead, and that excites the Blue Knights.

"I know how much talent we have," Beaton said. "To know that we had four ninth-graders and one eighth-grader starting, I just think it'll give me a lot next year."

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Sandwich High field hockey loses to Watertown in Division 3 final