BOURNE – For the first time since 2019, Notre Dame of Hingham will be back in a state girls hockey final.

Thanks to some timely offense and several huge stops in net, the top-seeded Cougars blanked No. 4 Malden Catholic 3-0 in the Div. 1 semifinals at Gallo Arena on Saturday night.

“Our girls came to play tonight,” said Notre Dame coach John Findley about getting to the state final. “We’re so psyched. … The girls worked so hard on the defensive core right up to our forwards.”

In the first period, Notre Dame (18-4-2) had to come up with a penalty kill in the final five minutes of the frame. Sophomore Devon Moore came away with a takeaway and buried the short-handed chance to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead with just over three minutes left in the first.

The Cougars extended their lead in the second period as junior Caroline Hartnett connected on a rebound right in front of the crease to make it a 2-0 lead over Malden Catholic (16-4-4) with 5:30 gone by in the period.

“I don’t think this team has ever forgotten the feeling that we endured last year losing to Shrewsbury down 2-0,” Moore said about the team’s composure. “So, going up 2-0 into the third period, the returners were feeling to get hyped, get another goal and secure the win. It feels amazing.”

Senior Lucy DelGallo added a tally with a little over four minutes left off a Moore assist to finish off the scoring at 3-0.

“That’s what you got to do,” said Findley. “You have to take shots in front of the net. If you get shots on the net, anything can happen. That’s what I have always told the girls.”

Senior Ava Larkin came up with several timely stops, including four saves in each of the first two periods as she collected 10 in the contest.

“It could’ve been a different game,” Findley said about the timely saves from Larkin. “She has played well and that’s what I expect of her. She’s a great kid.”

Next Sunday, the Cougars will play Sunday’s St. Mary’s of Lynn/Archbishop winner in the Div. 1 final at TD Garden.