The DHS field hockey team won its closest game of the season when it shutout Hingham, 2-0, last Friday afternoon on the Harborwomen’s home field, keeping its undefeated record intact at 10-0. With the victory, the Lady Dragons clinched a spot in the MIAA State Tournament and built a one-game lead over Scituate and Hanover in the Patriot League standings before taking on the Sailors on Wednesday afternoon at Raymond P. Chandler Field.

Despite injuries, illness, and family commitments, the Lady Dragons continue to march through their regular season schedule, outscoring opponents by a 53-4 margin that includes six shutouts by sophomore goalkeeper Sophie Fitzpatrick.

Not only do the Lady Dragons sport three of the top five scorers in the league in Grace Nissi (20 goals/10 assists), Hannah Murphy (16/5), and Molly Zaverucha (6/4), but it’s the defense that has Coach Pam Manley really excited.

In Friday’s win, Manley and co-coach Terry Vandewater were quick to praise the play of senior Siobhan McCarthy, who controlled the midfield and directed the offense for the entire game.

McCarthy scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 25:02 mark of the first half, and league scoring leader Grace Nissi tallied an insurance goal with 1:45 left in the first half.

The defense led by senior defensemen Keri Gould and Maggie Dunn, along with Players of the Game, sophomore defender Kathryn Nutter and  freshman defender Ali Hammel, held Hingham to just two corners, while junior midfielder Martha Findley continued to display her precision passing skills that have allowed her to be the catalyst of the high-scoring Duxbury offense.  

Earlier in the week, the Lady Dragons continued their scoring rampage with a 6-0 blowout of Pembroke on their old grass field.

Murphy netted two goals and had two assists, while junior forward Emilie Munson also notched a pair of goals. Nissi and junior forward Kyli White finished off the scoring for the Lady Dragons, who will host Notre Dame on Friday.

On Monday at 4 p.m., the Lady Dragons will have their chance for some revenge when they take on Hopkinton, who has eliminated Duxbury from postseason play the past two years and could be an impediment in keeping the team from going all the way in 2010.