By Owen Ziegler
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
On Friday, under the cool spring sun, the 6th ranked Westwood Wolverines girls lacrosse team found themselves in a crucial top 20 matchup with the 15th ranked Duxbury Dragons.
The game was a rematch of last year's D3 state quarterfinal, in which the Wolverines came out on top, 6-5 in a late-game thriller. This time around, Duxbury had the edge, holding on for a 9-8 victory.
It was a tough loss for Westwood, especially fresh off the Wolverines’ 13-8 victory over the defending Division 3 champions.
In the first quarter, Westwood came out strong. With a rocket from the middle, Junior Midfielder Cassidy McMillin struck first, giving Westwood the early lead. But the Dragons fought back with three dominant goals, mainly due to their strong control of possession. With two minutes remaining, Westwood’s Bridget Hughes - coming off a five-goal performance in the Wolverines’ last game - scored her first goal of the night to cut the lead to one.
But Duxbury responded with their own goal to close the first quarter at 4-2.
In the second quarter, Westwood flourished. Their defense, headlined by senior captains Lizzie Weeman, Olivia Mason and Olivia Shea was outstanding, holding the Dragons to only one 2nd quarter goal. Leading the defense, goalie Moria Kenneally came up with some huge saves to keep the score close. To set up a 5-5 tie going into the half.
Cassidy McMillin and Bridget Hughes scored their second goal, while senior captain midfielder Jenny Mackin. Duxbury came into the first half breathing fire, they went off for three unanswered goals in two-and-a-half minutes. For many teams, this seemed like the end, but as they say,
Wolverines are notorious for refusing to go down.
For the hat-trick, Bridget Hughes lit the spark with a goal up the middle, then Jenny Mackin, with 32 seconds left, put one in the net to cut the lead to one going into the final quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, The Dragons put the lead back to two with a beautiful shot over Kenneally. But time and time again, Jenny Mackin comes up clutch. Mackin netted her third of the game, to put victory in Westwood’s sights.
Unfortunately, Westwood couldn't get that last goal to tie the game, despite a heroic effort by Moira Kenneally, launching a half-field outlet pass, the Duxbury goalie came up in clutch moments.
With that final chance, Westwood came up short, 9-8 but proved themselves as the toughest competitors in June.
