Doyle has singularly catapulted Weymouth
When Kathryn Riley interviewed for the Weymouth varsity girls’ lacrosse coaching job in the winter of 2021, athletic director Rob O’Leary mentioned that freshman Megan Doyle had star potential.
O’Leary told Riley that Doyle played basketball, was really tall, and had a chance to be special. Riley was intrigued and figured she would have an opportunity to take the draw because of her size.
On the first day of tryouts, Riley realized immediately that O’Leary wasn’t exaggerating. If anything, Doyle was even better than advertised. Her unique blend of size and shiftiness, paired with her lethal shot and rare defensive ability, stood out right away.
“She’s been a leader since Day 1, almost like another coach on the field,” Riley said. “She could have easily been a captain all four years, just based on leadership alone.”
Together, Riley and Doyle, with plenty of help, have built Weymouth (2-3) into one of the state’s premier programs. Before they arrived, the Wildcats had won two Bay State Conference games combined over the previous three seasons. The program had just one postseason win to its name, back in 2013 in the preliminary round; the Wildcats had never exceeded 10 wins.
Now, Weymouth is a regular in the Division 1 tournament, winning a game each of the last two postseasons. Doyle, a twotime US Lacrosse All-American committed to Yale, is determined to take the journey even further and finish what they’ve started.
“Now, I feel like we have a name for ourselves,” Doyle said. “It’s more pressure, and we have to take it as a privilege.”
Doyle, who stands 6 feet, 1 inch, grew up in a soccer and basketball family. Her 6-4 father, Brian, played both sports at Weymouth High. Her mother, Julie (5-7), played soccer at Stonehill. When Doyle, her parents, and her brother Patrick (6-5) and sister Erin (5-10) enter a room, people tend to look up.
She first discovered lacrosse through a family friend who founded the Laxachusetts club team. Doyle followed Erin, who plays at Saint Anselm, and realized she had found her true passion.
Doyle improved through the Weymouth youth programs, then carved out a major role right away in high school. Riley played at King Philip and Boston College, was an assistant at KP, and moonlights as a sports photographer, so she’s seen her fair share of talent over the years.
“In terms of the complete package, she has it all,” Riley said.
Doyle is constantly face-guarded, and as soon as she gets the ball, a double and often tripleteam come her way. She’s dissected film from college catalysts, including former Boston College sniper Charlotte North, to see how they handle the extra attention.
Riley said Doyle doesn’t care whether she scores 10 goals or zero. As long as her teammates are thriving, and the Wildcats are winning, she’s satisfied.
“I would take a whole team of Megan Doyles, just for her attitude and personality, skill aside,” Riley said.
Doyle has a dry, self-deprecating sense of humor and occasionally refers to herself in the third person. She combines playfulness and intensity like few others.
Riley recalls a playoff game against Longmeadow last year, where Doyle was hit in the chest with a rocket and immediately perked up and screamed “Let’s go!” once she saw a yellow card for the opponent.
Junior Mira Flaherty remembers a behind-the-back 8-meter shot she made look easy.
“It’s absolutely unreal,” Flaherty said. “She’s really lethal on the field. Her attitude brings everyone up and makes us work 10 times harder.”
Doyle’s individual accolades speak for themselves. She became the program’s career leader in points (375) Thursday, and is also first in goals, draw controls, ground balls, and caused turnovers. She was Weymouth’s first conference Most Valuable Player, and a first-team all-state selection last spring.
On the basketball court, she’s also the program’s all-time leading scorer (1,138 points) and reigning BSC MVP. Doyle helped lead the Wildcats to a similar ascension and trip to the D1 quarterfinals this winter.
“If she tried, like, badminton, she’d be the best badminton player there could be,” Riley said. “She’s just so determined to be the best at whatever it is.”
But most of all, Doyle is someone who changed the culture of both the lacrosse and basketball programs. When teammates ask her for guidance, she always helps without hesitation.
The lacrosse team had to make cuts for the first time this spring — just four years after Riley found herself basically begging fellow students to join the team.
When Weymouth practices at Lovell Field, students from a nearby elementary school sometimes approach her and tell her they met at basketball. She knows who they are.
Doyle doesn’t take the spotlight for granted. As long as she’s inspiring others, she knows she’s doing her part.
“She thinks of people other than herself,” Flaherty said. “She’s always bringing us up.”
Quick sticks
R The 2024 Patriot Cup starts Thursday, with Sandwich, Scituate, Pembroke, and Hanover competing for the championship.
Game 1 includes Sandwich and Pembroke at noon at Hanover High, followed by Scituate vs. Hanover.
The consolation game will be held at noon Friday at Scituate High, followed by the championship game at 2 p.m.
R Senior goalie Jordan Turcotte scored five goals in a 13-4 win over Gloucester to pass 200 goals in her career . . . Swampscott senior Coco Clopton had four goals and two assists in a 16-1 win over Winthrop to reach 200 career points.