NATICK – Ever since he first started coaching at Wellesley, Steve Balter has made one thing very clear. Regardless of the task at-hand, his teams will always find ways to compete.

Facing a recent Div. 1 girls lacrosse champion in the semifinals Monday, one might think that this could have been the spot where the Raiders could wilt.

Instead, they turned in one of her best games of the spring when it mattered, Sophomore Abby Beggans had a career day, finishing with a hat trick as second-ranked Wellesley returned to the state championship with a statement victory over No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury, 12-5.

Wellesley (20-4) was also helmed by senior captain Alexandra Papavassiliou (hat trick) and by junior midfielder Kaitlyn Uller (two goals).

“It honestly meant the world, just being able to be out with my team.” said Papavassiliou. “I feel like we really worked together, and that’ what really made it so special as well. All of the goals, from all of the players on the field? It was done by working together.”

Both schools were known having for great defense schemes and being opportunistic. Yet, Wellesley took on a newfound role in the opening quarter of play, and decided to go on the offensive. Alexandra Papavassiliou, Emery McGraw and Beggans opened the game with goals for the Raiders, before sophomore Tara Battaglino fired home a free position shot to put her school ahead 4-0 with 4:56 to play in the first quarter.

Later on with Wellesley ahead, 6-2, Beggans corralled a beautiful pass from Emily Munchak, then fired a rocket into the twine to make it a 7-2 contest with 4:39 left in the first half.

Even when Lincoln-Sudbury (17-3) attempted to stage a rally in the third quarter, Wellesley was able to keep things afloat. As the final seconds bled away in the stanza, Papavassiliou caught a pass on the run, and ripped a shot home for her second goal as the Raiders constructed a 10-2 advantage entering the final quarter.

Wellesley now advances to its first state final since 2022. The Raiders will take on top-ranked Central Catholic for it all later this week.

It’s been a bittersweet year for Wellesley, however. The team saw the loss of one of its biggest supporters with the passing of Eric LaPlaca last fall. On Monday, the Raiders also suffered a potential loss on the field, as senior captain Eliza Chapman sustained an apparent knee injury in the second half.

That said, the Raiders and Chapman still intend to chase the dream.

“Regardless of if I’m on the field in the next game or not, I just know that being with this team, they’re going to bring their hardest,” said Chapman. “With everything that we’ve got.”