ATTLEBORO – Head coach Betsy D’Ambrosia was a bit baffled three weeks ago when her Bishop Feehan field hockey team was blown out by No. 1 Uxbridge, believing the group had much more potential than its eight-goal loss that day.

Saturday afternoon felt much more characteristic.

Behind four unanswered goals and a balanced defensive effort, the No. 11 Shamrocks (9-2) stamped their Div. 1 state title capability with a 4-1 win over previously unbeaten and No. 2 Franklin.

Senior captain Lilly Marchand scored twice, pairing with Emma Mitchell’s 11 saves to lead the program to its first-ever win over the Panthers (11-1).

“They played the way I know that they can play when they put it all together,” D’Ambrosia said. “Their intensity, their communication, their passing, and their desire to win – it was all there. That’s what got us the win today. Franklin’s a really talented team.”

Bishop Feehan’s Clare Latham, left, and Franklin’s Raena Crandall look to gain control of the ball during the first quarter Saturday in Attleboro. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

The first quarter was mostly controlled by the Panthers once they flipped the field midway through, peppering Mitchell with seven shots. They produced crafty corner plays all game, and Maddie O’Brien finished one for a 1-0 lead with 7:08 left in the first quarter off a rebound.

But Franklin seemed to ease up from there, and Bishop Feehan surged right back.

Sophomore Ryann Logan showed the aggression the Shamrocks have been looking for from her, tying the score at 1-1 with just under three minutes left in the first. Only 1:12 later, Marchand then took her turn to sneak away with a 2-1 lead.

“To have the first goal go in from a sophomore, who we’ve been looking for her to get more aggressive … that was a huge momentum boost for us,” D’Ambrosia said.

“It felt electric (to get the two quick goals),” Marchand added. “We just kept pushing to go get the goal.”

Much of the next two quarters was a jockey for opportunities between the two 25s, which the Shamrocks mostly controlled as Franklin trailed in a game for the first time all season. Bishop Feehan didn’t produce many shots, but held the Panthers to three shots in the second quarter and one in the third to limit chances.

Senior captains Sammy Logan (defense) and Bella Colitti (midfield) played a large role in preventing Franklin from breaking through, as did senior midfielder Alli Buonaccoursi, and juniors Clare Latham (defense) and Bridgette McGinnis (midfield).

“We controlled the ball most of the game between the 25s, and that was our goal,” D’Ambrosia said. “The entire game, I don’t think we had one breakdown. Not one – defensively, offensively, mentally. Usually, that will happen at any given time and it can last a whole quarter. But I didn’t see one minute of that. Even when they scored on their corner, it was a nice goal.”

Franklin’s Jossie Camp, right, battles Bishop Feehan’s Lily Eccles for possession of the ball in Attleboro. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

Franklin flashed quality passes and shot creation on its seven corners, though only accrued the one goal. Latham and Sammy Logan neutralized a few of those as the flyer and trailer out of the cage, and Mitchell stopped the rest in as strong of a performance as she’s had.

“She’s amazing, she kept pushing through the entire game,” Marchand said.

Franklin goalie Devon Barry and the defense also did well to limit offensive opportunity. But Marchand ended a run of 39 scoreless minutes by dangling past three defenders into the circle for a 3-1 lead with 7:31 left. Three minutes later, Buonaccoursi slipped a goal through a kick attempt to put the game away.