Clock Strikes Midnight For Red Rangers In Loss to Duxbury

The Tewksbury/Methuen girls’ hockey team travelled a long way, both literally and figuratively, to play in the Division 2 State Semifinals on Saturday in Bourne.

Unfortunately for the Red Rangers, their game against two-time defending State Champ Duxbury High may have seemed even longer.

Combining a relentless attack with a smothering defense, the Dragons overwhelmed the Red Rangers, 8-0, to advance to the State Final on March 17 at the TD Garden.

Duxbury (20-1-1), which held a 48-11 edge in shots on goal, settled matters early with four goals in the first period against Tewksbury/Methuen goalie Taylor Lirakis (40 saves). They added two in each of the final two periods.

Jacqui Nolan and Liz Collins had two goals each to pace the Dragons’ offense.

who entered the game with a state-best 52 goals, was held to just three shots on goal, according to an article appearing on espn.com.

The loss ends a remarkable tournament run for the Red Rangers, which reached the playoffs in their first-ever varsity season. With victories in their first three tournament games, the Red Rangers end their season at 11-8-3.