Camaraderie keeps Plymouth North on course

PLYMOUTH - The 6-0 start was unexpected. After all, a Plymouth North golf team last won a league title 20 years ago.

"It was a big improvement for us," junior Mike Higgins said. "We weren't used to winning that much."

The winning streak was snapped, but the Eagles still managed to qualify for the MIAA Division 1South Sectional for the first time in at least 10 years, according to Plymouth North coach Michael McCosh. Tomorrow, Plymouth North is headed to the Division 1 match at Glen Ellen Country Club in Millis.

Earning a postseason berth is special for the Eagles, especially after coming so close in previous years. Plymouth North missed qualifying for the tournament by one win four years in a row. To earn a tournament berth, a team has to win at least half of its 16 matches.

The undefeated start helped Plymouth North gain confidence and limit the pressure of must-win matches. The streak is considered one of the highlights of the season for the Eagles because of how they played in some of the tougher matches.

In September, trailing North Quincy by seven points, the Eagles needed senior Abbey Drane, their No. 8 player, to pull out the victory. The team's only girl, she plays on the boys' team because Plymouth North does not field a girls' team in the spring. She played on the practice squad for three seasons, earning the respect of her teammates, who elected her as one of the squad’s four captains in her first year as a starter.

Against North Quincy, she had no idea that everyone was depending on her to win the match.

"I was playing well; I figured everyone else was, too," she said.

Drane won her match, securing the Eagles' 39-34 win, Plymouth North's fifth straight victory.

In some ways, Drane has become a secret weapon, catching foes off guard. "She gets into their heads," senior captain Dustin Vinci said.

McCosh agreed. "They might think, 'I'm not going to let a girl beat me,'" the coach said. "You see her putt and win a hole and they get frustrated." Her teammates could not have been more supportive. She ended the regular season 12-4, averaging 42.9 over nine holes.

Her play on the team’s practice squad paid off.

"I knew we would be better this year because we got along really well," Drane said.

Many Eagles attributed the camaraderie of the 23 players on the squad to the leadership of Drane, Vinci, and seniors Dave McGrath and Spencer Withington.

McGrath recently received the league's sportsmanship award.

When they are together, the teammates seem to share a good-natured sense of humor. Withington has played on the team's practice squad in previous seasons and has had limited starts this year, but he showcases a big personality that is embraced by the others. He calls himself the "captain of the practice squad."

Without a junior-varsity squad, the practice squad provides players an opportunity to play and to be around the varsity, McCosh said.

The younger players have plenty to look up to among the starting eight. Vinci and junior Phil Cash captured 10 victories this fall and were selected Atlantic Coast League all-stars.

Higgins owns nine wins, averages 39.2 shots over nine holes, and was also a league all-star.

Senior Jordan Wylie, junior Dave Marathas, and senior T.J. Lynn combined for 21 victories.

"We're good friends with each other," Lynn said. "It's a good experience to go out and play with people you’re friends with."

Plymouth North ended the regular season at 9-7, and McCosh thinks the Eagles have the ability to accomplish more.

"How far they can go, I don’t know, but they set goals for themselves and they achieved it," he said.

Vinci said that as a senior, he can appreciate what it means to advance to the postseason.

"It's been a good way to end senior year," Vinci said.

The players are expecting a challenging day at the sectional, but are not dreading the tournament.

"It's cool," Cash said, "because you get to miss a day of school to go play golf."

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.