In the 2024 MIAA Div. 1 girls soccer tournament, defending champion Natick fell to Bishop Feehan in overtime in the semifinals. One year later, the RedHawks had no intention of letting their semifinal game be that close.

Two first-half goals from sophomore Kerrington Sheriff started an onslaught that ended in a 5-0 victory over Belmont and sent Natick to the state finals for the second time in three seasons.

“Last year we thought we would go to the championship, and when we didn’t, it was heartbreaking,” Natick co-head coach Denise Trubiano said. “This group is such a special group, and we are so happy for them. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

“To come out in a game at this level and this stage and put it away 5-0 is just unbelievable,” Natick co-head coach Kari-Ann Daley said. “I just think that we have so many weapons, and you just can’t double everyone.”

Belmont’s Zoe Marion, left, and Natick’s Emila Sousa fight for the ball during the first half. Natick rolled to a 5-0 win in the state semifinal. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Belmont had a few strong chances to start the first half, but Katie McMahon stood strong and made some key stops in the crease. Once the RedHawks got some pressure on offense, Seton Hall commit Nicole Proia pushed the ball towards the net and fired a crosser to Sheriff, who crashed the net and fired it home for the lead.

Minutes later, Sheriff corralled the ball at about the 15-yard line and floated it into the back of the net to double the lead.

“I was trying to hit the corner and hope I made it,” Sheriff said of her shot attempt.

Later in the first half, Abby McCauley crashed the net and buried a shot to extend the lead to three. She said the team has struggled to start strong throughout the season, but Tuesday’s performance showed how Natick can take control of a game.

“All season long, we have been a second-half team where we didn’t come out as strong as we wanted to in the first half but settled in the second,” McCauley said. “We knew with a talented Belmont team over there, we had to be ready to go from the start. We had that mindset that we had to start strong. Even when it was 2-0 coming out of our timeout, we knew we needed to ‘fight, fight, fight’ or we could lose it.”

Belmont’s Catherine Greiner and Natick’s Abby McCauley, right, battle for the ball Tuesday night. Natick earned a 5-0 win in the state semifinal. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

The Marauders entered the second half chasing three and struggled to cross the 50-yard line in the final 40 minutes as the RedHawks dominated possession.

“Our defense has done an amazing job this season, not letting players get by them,” McCauley said. “We knew that defense today was going to take everyone, including midfielders and forwards, to drop back, and we executed today. When someone lost the ball, we were all in it together and attacked the ball.”

Maddie Bonner and Proia added insurance goals in the final minutes to give the game its final score. Natick now advances to the title game, which will be on Saturday in Leominster.

As the RedHawks prepare for the game, Trubiano said town pride will be at the forefront of the players’ minds.

“For them, this is such a proud moment,” Trubiano said. “It means so much to them as Natick players who have gone through the program from youth to high school.”