For the third consecutive year, the Hopkinton field hockey team is headed to the Class M-S semifinals.

This season, coach Patty Connolly said her team has the talent and the desire necessary to take the next step and perhaps win the school’s first field hockey championship.

First, however, they must defeat No. 1 seed Berlin. That’s not an insurmountable task; the Lady Hawks have already proven they can win in a hostile playoff environment.

They traveled to fourth seed Mascoma on Saturday, Oct. 25, and upended the hosts, 2-1.

They also hit the road during the regular season to face defending state champ Derryfield, this year’s No. 3 seed, and handed DS its only loss. Hopkinton faces Berlin on a neutral field – Bedford High School. The contest was scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 29.

“Berlin should be tough, but all the top teams are very tough … And having seven seniors who have the experience of being in this game should really help us,” said Connolly. “We are all very driven to make it to the next level.”

Against Mascoma, Hopkinton faced an early deficit when the Royals scored exactly four minutes into the game.

But Hopkinton fought back, and with five seconds remaining in the first half, Brittany Dow took a pass from Brooke Porter and drove the ball past the Mascoma goalie to knot the contest at one.

Connolly said the goal gave her squad the momentum heading into the second half, and they capitalized. At 19:42, Brooke Porter notched her second assist on a corner pass when she found Hannah Richard, who put the Lady Hawks ahead for good.

Though both squads had other opportunities, Connolly said the strong defensive play of Emma Hunt and Amy Smith helped preserve the victory. Megan Edmonds contributed five saves in net.

Three days earlier, the locals opened the postseason with a 5- 1 triumph at home against Newport. Connolly said her players weren’t taking the 12th seed lightly after these same foes took them into overtime earlier in the season.

Richard eliminated any doubt among her teammates when she scored two goals in the first two minutes of play.

“This allowed us to relax and just play the kind of passing game that we have been all season,” said Connolly.

Sophomore Ali Campbell tallied two more scores and sophomore Kelsey Dow added one. All five goals came in the first half.