Caroline Walsh lined up toe-to-tie with Lincoln-Sudbury’s Courtney Quirk for a draw early in the first half of their regular-season finale Tuesday evening in Sudbury.

The Needham High junior midfielder pushed the ball straight up, snatched it out of the air and controlled possession, sparking the Rockets on the attack, and resulting in a goal from Ally Hickey 30 seconds later.

By controlling the draw, a team controls the pace of the game.

Needham lost the next six draws, and committed a few other costly offensive zone turnovers, leading to eight consecutive goals for L-S, and ultimately, an 15-11 win to hand the Rockets (18-2) just their second defeat of the season.

“We weren’t running through the ball and we weren’t coming up with it,’’ said Needham coach Beth O’Brien. “I think it is won or lost on the circle and we just didn’t win the 50/50 battles. It’s part of every practice. Draw controls and 50/50 balls are the name of the game.’’

“Those battles are really crucial,’’ added Walsh.

“You want to get clean possession when it is in the air but once it is on the ground it is important to run through the ball, scoop and control it.’’

It was no coincidence that Lincoln-Sudbury (13-3) outdueled Needham on draw controls, 16-11, and won the game.

“Possession is everything in our game,’’ said L-S coach Bowen Holden. “The only way to gain possession from the get-go is through draw control. Obviously turnovers and capitalizing on ground balls is crucial, but you could look at any stat line and the score will be reflected in who won the draw controls.’’

In the upcoming MIAA tournament, forcing turnovers against quality competitition is a tough task, making draw controls even more important.

“The team that usually wins the most draws, wins the game,’’ said Milligan, a junior. “In big competitive games you aren’t going to see as many turnovers or dropped balls. Those draws are the best way to get possession.’’

On a draw, Milligan tries to utilize her teammates on the circle, either pulling it back to Hickey or pushing it Kailey Conry.

“I try to look at where the girl they are lined up with is positioned,’’ said Milligan. “There are little adjustments each time, but usually we know where we are going every time we go out there.’’

This spring, Milligan and Walsh have utilized the advice of assistant coach Katie Ott, a former All-American at Medfield High who played collegiately at the University of Massachusetts.

“She had taught me how to push the ball better,’’ said Walsh. “She’s taught me to use my strength in the draw and how to put the ball into certain places when I need to.’’

Added Milligan, “A lot of it is how you flick your wrists and where you put your legs to position your weight to help put the ball exactly where you want.’’

At Medfield High, Grace Crowell, Maggie McCarthy and Dana Gill have also spent time working with Ott on advancing their skills on the draw.

McCarthy, a sophomore, has taken 46 draws for the Warriors (13-5) this season.

“It is mostly mental,’’ said McCarthy. “You have to believe you’re going to win it and trust the girls you have on the circle.’’

The 5-foot-9 McCarthy is learning how to use her height to her advantage by winnning the draws to herself.

“It is all about being ready for the ref’s whistle and to follow through up with your wrist,’’ she said. “I have two more years to work on it so hopefully I can get a little better at it.’’

Crowell, a senior, is also incredibly effective on the circle.

“I’m focused on boxing out the person next to me,’’ she said. “I get my feet staggered so I can get that quick burst off. If I can get that girl out of the picture then Maggie or Dana has one less person to worry about.

“When I’m on the draw I’m definitely trying to win it out because I don’t have the height. Having someone like Maggie with height that wins it to herself is a huge advantage with matchups.’’

The Warriors have won 50 percent of their draws during the regular season. Coach Kathleen McCullough hopes her squad can up their efficiency during the tournament.

“Until they puts a shot clock on girls’ lacrosse, the draw is basically possession and sometimes it can be tough get the ball back,’’ she said. “Whoever wins the draw, controls the game.’’

Franklin head coach Kristin Igoe also uses a rotation for draws.

Freshman Annie Walsh, senior Kenzie Pleshaw and sophomore Grace MacCallum have all taken a large number of draws for the Panthers, who went undefeated in the Hockomock and won the Kelley-Rex title.

On May 3, the Panthers were decidedlyoutdrawn by Lincoln-Sudbury, but a draw control by Walsh in the final minute helped to secure a 10-9 victory.

“Being able to win a draw late in a game is huge, whether you have to win it and score or to kill the clock,’’ said Igoe, a two-time All-American at Framingham High and four-time all-ACC honoree at Boston College.

“She was able to come up with that crucial draw and that’s how we won the game.’’

Michael McMahon can be reached at mcman92@gmail.com.