HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE: Duxbury's new-look defense keys playoff win vs. Plymouth North

DUXBURY – Atop the early season to-do list for the Duxbury High girls lacrosse team was this: Figure out the defense.

Looks like mission accomplished on that end.

The Dragons, who surrendered 16 or more goals in three of their first four games this spring, have tightened up considerably there. The latest evidence was Saturday's 17-4 win over Patriot League rival Plymouth North in the Round of 16 in the Division 2 state tournament.

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Since a shaky beginning – and it should be noted that Duxbury faced a gantlet of top teams early on – the Dragons have conceded double-digits goals only three times in their last 16 games. Opponents are averaging just 5.43 goals per game during that stretch.

"We've worked really hard this season and it's paid off for everybody," senior Anna Sovik said of the defense. "Everyone's improved a lot."

"It (was about) finding our chemistry," coach Kelly Jurgens said. "We did a great job of figuring out our strengths and weaknesses and working on strengthening our challenges. I'm really happy to see (the progress)."

Duxbury followed up a 16-9 season-opening loss to Notre Dame Academy with a 15-2 win over Pembroke, but back-to-back losses to Westwood (20-12) and Walpole (16-11) saddled the Dragons with an uncharacteristic 1-3 record. Of course, that came with a big asterisk, given how the season has played out – NDA is the No. 1 seed in Division 2, Westwood is No. 2 in Division 1, and Walpole is No. 1 in Division 1.

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"The first few games we were playing some high-level teams," senior defender Liz Delia pointed out. "We had some things to work out throughout the season and change up the type of defense that we were running a few times. But we had some underclassmen really step in and play some big roles. I'm really proud of them for being able to take that pressure and work as a team and support each other."

Jurgens, who intentionally front-loaded the schedule, figured the tough early tests would pay dividends down the road and that seems to be panning out. Fourth-seeded Duxbury clobbered No. 29 Wakefield, 21-2, in the first round and was in total control against No. 13 Plymouth North (14-4), racing out to an 11-2 halftime lead.

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The Dragons (14-6) will host No. 5 Billerica (16-4) in the quarterfinals (details TBA). It's the first time since 2014 (a run to the Division 1 South semifinals) that Duxbury has won two playoff games in the same year. Under the old playoff system the Dragons won their South tournament opener and then lost in the quarterfinals six straight times from 2015-21. (Remember there were no playoffs in 2020.)

"This is our first year back in D2," Jurgens said, "so it's exciting to get past the second round."

Duxbury booked its ticket to the quarterfinals by limiting the damage of Plymouth North's Pyy sisters. Annika, a junior, had 91 goals and 27 assists for 118 points entering the game, while Addie, a freshman, checked in with a 47-37–84 scoring line.

"They dominate on the draw, along with Ava Whiting," North coach Becca Brady said of the sisters. "And they can just telepathically know where each other are on the field. They both have a great connection with Ava, too, so those three have really led the offense."

The sisters both looked dangerous in this one, but the Dragons held Annika Pyy to two goals and Addie Pyy to four assists. Whiting scored North's two other goals. Duxbury goalie Katie Geis made 13 saves, cleaning up most of the shots that made it through to her.

"They both had great games," Delia said of the Pyy sisters, "but I think our defense did a good job of sticking to the game plan."

Asked who's in charge on the back end for Duxbury, Jurgens named Sovik and Delia but quickly added, "Collectively they all play really well. Schuyler Cerow and Lily Sparrow had great games. Lily's job was to mark Annika Pyy today; she scores an average of four-to-five goals a game and (Sparrow) held her to two, which I thought was great. And Ellie Wall, who does really well for us in the attacking end, she also had the defensive job of marking Addie (Pyy). Ellie was fantastic on both ends."

Offensively, Duxbury spread the wealth, getting hat tricks from Wall, Bella Fisher, Ayla Abban and Sophia Prouty, plus two goals each from Campbell Johnston and Sydney Ecker and a solo tally from Carson Cerow. The Dragons built their 6-1 lead with goals from six different players, showcasing the variety of their attack.

"That's an awesome sign," Johnston said. "We have a really, really dynamic attack. Not just one person can go to net. Every single player on our team can go to net. We joke about it in practice how even our low defenders have a great shot."

Johnston had perhaps the day's most unusual goal, scoring off an 8-meter shot into a vacated net. Since North goalie Sofia DeCola (who was terrific in defeat) committed the foul, she had to stand aside. Johnston didn't overthink the play, pulling the trigger as soon as the referee blew his whistle on the restart.

"I think it's happened maybe one other time this season," Johnston said. "That can be a little nerve-racking. I had my teammates running over to me afterward saying, 'Wow, good one!'"

The loss ended a breakthrough season for Plymouth North. The Blue Eagles' four losses came against Duxbury (twice), Scituate and Hingham. Scituate is in the Division 2 Round of 16, and Hingham just lost in Division 1 as a No. 9 seed.

"I have to say that I'm incredibly proud of my team," Brady said, "because I only had four returning varsity players. I had a few girls who played the abbreviated JV season (last year) and a handful of girls who had never played lacrosse before. And they really showed up big. They trusted me and they trusted their teammates. It was definitely a group effort to get everybody to this point.

"Plymouth North has never made the second round of the state tournament before, so I'm really proud of what I thought would be a rebuilding year actually turning into the most successful season that Plymouth North lacrosse has had."

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Duxbury girls lacrosse tops Plymouth North for spot in quarterfinals