DUXBURY — Whenever two recent state championship finalists gather for a rematch, fireworks are guaranteed. After falling to Reading in 2023, the Duxbury boys lacrosse team refused to let history repeat itself.

Senior Zach Falls still looks back on the fateful day from last spring, and he is the primary reason that the second playoff chapter panned out for his group. The Williams College commit registered a hat trick, propelling the top-seeded Dragons to the Final Four with an epic 8-5 victory over the eighth-ranked Rockets on Friday.

“Every single midfielder stepped up today,” said Falls. “I think TJ (Pikul) had two (goals), I think Sam (Wien) had two. That’s what it’s all about. Coach talked about it yesterday, playing together, the three of us. We’re going to spread the ball, we’re going to show you that our three guys can take any of your three guys. Today? I just had the stick today. The weather wasn’t ideal, but I’ve been working on my game every single day after practice. It feels great when it shows up on the field.”

Last season saw Duxbury falter to Reading in the Div. 2 finals during then-Rockets coach Charlie Hardy’s final game at the helm, when a stacked Rockets team upended the Dragons, 9-4. The Dragons were able to earn some payback with a 15-5 regular-season victory on April 20 this year.

This time around? A much more heated contest, as the rivals traded blows in the first half. After Reading (17-4) tied things with a goal by Nate Mulvey at the conclusion of the first quarter, Falls was able to put Duxbury (21-1) back ahead at 4-3 with an absolute snipe from long range. Wien tacked on one more goal for the Dragons with 5:37 left in the half, as Duxbury took a 5-3 lead at the break. Pikul then found the cage with his second goal to open the third quarter, and it looked like the Dragons were set to coast to a win.

Not so fast.

After fighting all game, Reading staged a rally in the second half, as Mulvey potted another goal in the third, before Zach Lindmark sniped a man-up tally to trim the deficit to 6-5 with 11:47 left in regulation.

Every time Duxbury has needed an answer, however, Falls has answered the bell. The senior completed his hat trick with 6:10 left, giving the Dragons a 7-5 advantage. Classmate Braeden Hulett added an insurance goal with 4:08 to play, icing the win for Duxbury.

The Dragons become the latest lacrosse team from the South Shore ranks and the gauntlet known as the Patriot League to reach the semifinals. Duxbury coach Chris Sweet had a difficult time remembering the last instance where the area had seen such parity in the tight knit community.

“This is pretty unusual with how things turned out,” Sweet said. “Particularly with our league, the Patriot League, has a lot of good teams. That’s why we’ve got one loss – in the Patriot League.”

With rivals such as Hingham and Marshfield still vying for their own shot at a Div. 2 title, the journey might not get easier for the Dragons.

“It means so much,” said Falls. “We really remember this game like it was yesterday. This is Reading, and we’re not done yet. Because we know that Marshfield (is waiting). We’re coming for (them), our only loss of the season. And everyone knows the deal with Hingham. That’s the last dance, the game we have been waiting for all season.”

Reading’s Tomaso DeLuca, left, keeps the ball away from Duxbury’s Braeden Hulett on Friday. Duxbury earned an 8-5 boys lacrosse victory. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald)