DERRY — Pinkerton Academy sophomore Evan Sweeney enjoyed a sensational second quarter, connecting for four consecutive goals to break open a lengthy scoreless tie with rival Exeter.

But make no mistake: Spectacular team defense from start to finish told the tale of the Derry squad’s season-extending playoff win Thursday at Memorial Field.

Long-stick midfielder Brett Connal, and defensemen Sean Conroy, Matt Madden and Nick Liporto were in lock-down mode from the opening faceoff. The quartet’s play, plus the seven-save effort of goaltender Pearce Connal, keyed a 7-3 decision in the Division I boys’ lacrosse quarterfinals.

“The kids were amazing,” said Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly, whose fourth-seeded Astros meet top-seed Bishop Guertin of Nashua Sunday at Bedford High School. “We talked all week about (competing) with some intensity.”

It was obvious the Astros (11-3 Division I) received their coach’s message. Conroy confirmed it, anyway.

“We just wanted to play as hard as we could,” said the junior, critical in Pinkerton’s clearing game.

Inspired defense fueled everything for the Astros. They dominated faceoffs. They dominated the duel for ground balls. They dominated possession.

The Astros simply dominated.

“I don’t think it was ever a game, to be honest,” said Exeter coach Gerry Holly, whose club struggled mightily with riding attackmen Sweeney, Dom Corsetto and freshman Todd Billetter (two goals). “I thought they were in control from the opening whistle right to the end.”

Holly’s fifth-seeded Blue Hawks (10-6 Division I) failed to score in the opening 32 minutes, 33 seconds. Attackman Buddy Carr snapped the drought with a man-up goal in the third quarter.

It was well after Sweeney’s superb second stanza, capped by a tally from Peter Field.

Taking advantage of a matchup on the crease, Sweeney struck four times in a span of 5:56. Before his inside roll dodge created space to fire the first goal, the teams played a scoreless stretch of 16-plus minutes.

The Astros, though, controlled tempo and action in the game’s early stages as well.

Exeter goalie Jake Pleadwell (16 saves) made five stops in the first frame. Pinkerton finished the quarter with a 10-1 shots advantage, though many of the misfires resulted from bad-angle shots at the cage.

Pinkerton stayed aggressive.

“We’ve got that ‘go for it’ attitude. I really like it,” Conroy said. “I like the way we’re going.”