With a six-goal differential in two successful playoff outings, the Hopkinton Hawks moved two games closer to a more important goal – their third straight Class M boys soccer title.

The top-ranked Hawks, with a 5-0 opening-round triumph against Fall Mountain and a 1-0 quarterfinal-round win against Stevens, advanced to the semifinals, where they were scheduled to play fourth-seeded White Mountains on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

The winner advanced to the title game, slated for Saturday, Nov. 8, 3 p.m. at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook.

Against Stevens on Friday, Oct. 31, it took the locals 17 minutes to score the one goal needed for victory, yet it took 80 minutes of staunch defense and ball control to secure it.

With 23 minutes remaining in the first half, Will Rendell tapped in a rebound off a near-miss by Kris Abildgaard.

“Our team goal coming into today’s game was to play the way we can play – lots of possession and lots of balls to the end line,” said head coach Scott Zipke. “Stevens’ game plan was clearly to try and counterattack all day and catch us snoozing for a breakaway.”

Though Zipke said both teams executed their game plans well, it was the Hawks’ backfield that won the game. Led by sweeper Brian Scala, marking backs Duncan Sweny and Kim Long, and stopper Brooks Wood, the Hopkinton defense never allowed Stevens to succeed with its “boomball-type play,” said the coach.

Conversely, the forwards controlled the ball up top the final 20 minutes of the game. While his teammates fired eight shots on net, Jay Leblanc made two saves for the victors. The first came on a semi-breakaway midway through the first half, and the other on a well-struck corner kick he rejected.

In the preliminary round, the Hawks baffled the Fall Mountain defense, converting five goals among 10 shots on net.

Still, Zipke said his team never took the visitors lightly.

“We knew coming into today that Fall Mountain was not a normal No. 16 seed. They lost four overtime games this season and only lost once by more than a single goal,” said the coach. “The quality of the opponent makes today’s win all the more satisfying and beneficial.”

Rendell, like he did three days later, scored first in the 17th minute. From 20 yards out, he punched a one-timer into the upper-right corner of the net.

All-state striker Travis Fuglestad followed up with a header off a corner kick in the 25th minute. Travis Kuster earned the assist on the second goal, then redirected a skillful Abildgaard cross past the goalie in the 53rd minute.

Joe Merrow scored off his own rebound in the 74th minute, and Fuglestad notched his second tally of the game with less than five minutes left when he sent “a gorgeous left-footed knock” into the upper-left corner of the net from 22 yards out.

The defense gave Leblanc a virtual day off, allowing only one shot on goal.