After 24 years at the helm of Franklin field hockey, coach Michelle Hess finally has her Panthers in the state final.
“It’s just so emotional,” Hess said, holding back tears after second-seeded Franklin dominated No. 3 Wellesley, 2-0, in a Division 1 semifinal at Westborough High.
“They’ve been working so hard, they’ve wanted this since Day 1.”
Franklin (17-2-3) will play two-time defending champion Walpole (20-1-1) in Saturday’s final at Burlington High.
“We’ve come a long way,” said Ava Lucenta, a senior captain. “It feels so nice to finally be here.”
Lucenta, a defender who typically inserts Franklin’s penalty corners, scored in the fourth quarter. Earlier in the day, she told her teammates she had a feeling she would find the net.
“It was just a feeling, something I had confidence in,” she said. “That post was really open, and coach has been telling me [staying] low on the post, I would get that chance.”
Freshman Cade Taccini opened the scoring in the second quarter, just two days after netting the double-overtime winner off a penalty stroke against No. 10 Hopkinton.
Despite Franklin’s early dominance, Wellesley freshman goalkeeper Bridget Young was powerful in net. She recorded three straight saves in the opening drive and stopped four consecutive penalty corners in the final minutes.
“To play on that level in this high-pressure situation, she did amazing,” said Wellesley coach Erin Stickle. “She kept us in the game.”
“I’ve had teams in the past with a lot of talent,” said Hess. “I feel like this team has something special about it. These girls are on a mission.”
Walpole 6, Winchester 1 — In a game that was rewarding, yet painful, the two-time defending Porkers kept their play status quo.
Taking the lead less than four minutes in, top-seeded Walpole (20-1-1) pounced on No. 5 Winchester in a state semifinal at Westborough High.
Before the opening draw, Walpole senior Caitlyn Handwerk was escorted off the field after sustaining an injury in the warmup circle. And junior Riley Halloran, who scored in the first quarter, left the field with an upper body injury.
But the Porkers seized the early lead and held their possession the majority of the game.
Senior Emily Dunn was the trigger, scoring off a rebound.
“That’s something we struggled with a lot in the beginning of the year, trying to figure out when to go for that deflection,” Walpole coach Jenn Quinn said. “They support each other so well. When one kid misses it, the next kid is there.”
Senior captain Kendal Cusack scored twice, and classmate Caitlin Caulfield netted the final goal with 2:30 left. Junior Caroline Handwerk also scored with her sister, Caitlyn, cheering from the sideline.
“Even if she doesn’t play, it doesn’t matter,” Caroline Handwerk said. “The bench is so hype. The sisterhood [the team] has, it helps us win.”
While Winchester struggled to maintain possession past the midfield, senior goalkeeper Isabella Bogovich made 17 saves.
“We broke down defensively at the beginning of the game, and it’s hard to come back from that,” Winchester coach Michelle White said after the completion of an 18-4-0 season. “We gave up two goals pretty quickly.”
Division 3
Sandwich 3, Dover-Sherborn 0 — The second-seeded Blue Knights (19-1-2) controlled the first two quarters against feisty Dover-Sherborn, controlling possession, earning a half-dozen corners, and pushed into the circle on numerous occasions. But no goals.
Just minutes into the third quarter, a strike from senior Khloe Schultz broke the scoreless tie, and suddenly the nerves were gone. With Schultz’s breakthrough, and a flurry of second-half scoring, Sandwich surged past No. 3 Dover-Sherborn (18-3-1) at West Bridgewater High, earning its fourth trip to the final in five years.
Sandwich will play top-seeded Uxbridge in Saturday’s state final at Burlington High.
“One thing we always say is that when we score early, we play so much better. When it’s 0-0, we all play tense,” said Schultz. “So that first goal, as little as it is, it honestly helps so much. We all had been fighting so hard. We were down there for the whole first half.”
Added coach Kelsy Beaton: “I always say, ‘Score early.’ I feel like I see their bodies loosen up.”
A long-range shot from Sadie Clarkin and a last-second goal from Elisabeth Stutzman added to the score.
“They’ve been here [to the finals],” said Beaton. “They know. Even though we’ve done it a lot recently, it doesn’t take away from how it was a hard journey. This was a really hard-fought game against a talented team.
“I’m proud of them – I’m happy that they get to be on this stage again.”
Uxbridge 7, Watertown 0 — The top-seeded Spartans (22-0) couldn’t be distracted by their staggering success.
Hours after four of the team’s seniors — Amelia Blood (Wake Forest), Kendall Gilmore (Maryland), Julia Okenquist (Holy Cross), and Julianna Casucci (New Hampshire) — made their college commitments official, Uxbridge, the four-time defending Division 4 champ, ousted Watertown (18-3), the four-time reigning D3 champion, in a semifinal at West Bridgewater.
“Today was exciting for the seniors,” said Uxbridge coach Kelly Rosborough. “We had this afternoon, and then we had to reset and refocus, because we had something to do tonight.”
“It wouldn’t be a state championship run without trying to get through Watertown. The numbers fell where they fell, and it was meant to be. It was a great opportunity for the seniors especially to have a moment to play a town with that reputation,” said Rosborough.
Blood, Casucci (2), Gilmore, Ava Rosborough (2), and Mia Ouellette scored. Okenquist, the team’s goalie, pitched a shutout.
“We were super hyped,” said Blood. “It’s super special since I’ve been with these girls since I was so young. Seeing them going to play Division 1, also me going to play Division 1, and then clinching our spot here – it’s just amazing.”
Watertown coach Eileen Donahue said the Raiders “came here prepared to do well, and each period we fought for it. We went up against an extremely strong team. I wish Uxbridge the best of luck in their next game. That team is very talented.”
Evan Walsh reported from West Bridgewater.
Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.