WEST BRIDGEWATER – Back again.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Sandwich field hockey team came together with a chance to realign down to Div. 4 this offseason, but opted unanimously to stay in Div. 3 – hungry for a job unfinished.

With a 3-0 win over No. 3 Dover-Sherborn in the Div. 3 state semifinals at West Bridgewater High School on Wednesday night, the No. 2 Blue Knights (19-1-2) qualified for their fourth state final appearance in five years, still in search of their first state title since 1987.

Several of their leading players have started since they were freshmen in this dominant stretch. Getting back to this stage is far from a certainty in a loaded division, but three second-half goals helped lift them to the title game again.

“It feels great,” said Sandwich head coach Kelsy Beaton. “You can’t take away anything from the group and what they’ve accomplished. For most of these kids, they’re seniors now. They started when they were freshmen. They’ve been here. … Even though we’ve done it a lot recently, it doesn’t take away from it’s a hard journey. This was a really hard-fought game, talented team, and I’m proud of them.”

Dover-Sherborn did well to stave off a nearly overwhelming amount of offensive pressure in the first quarter before settling down for a bit more even play in the second. Neve McMakin (10 saves) had five saves in that first quarter, the defense held off four Sandwich corners, and a couple of transitions looked promising to perhaps steal a lead in what ended as a scoreless first half.

But Sandwich was relentless with its attack, finally potting a goal four minutes into the third quarter. McMakin saved an initial shot with her stick, but Khloe Schultz gathered possession in front and flicked in the 1-0 lead.

“When you score, I feel like it relaxes everybody,” Beaton said. “For the first period, I felt like we were down here (on the attack) the whole time. No matter how many times you’ve been to a game like this, you’re still nervous and you’re still a little tense.”

Sadie Clarkin added an insurance goal soon after, finding space up top for a strong shot to the corner to make it 2-0 entering the fourth quarter.

“There wasn’t a lot I said very different (at halftime with the score tied),” Beaton said. “We were playing well. … I just said, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll find the back of the net.’ And they did.”

Dover-Sherborn made several strong defensive plays to keep it 2-0, and threatened on the attack a few times. Freshman goalie Cam Craddock made a pair of high-quality saves.

With less than two minutes left, though, Elisabeth Stutzman added one more insurance goal on a two-person breakaway with Megan Dwyer that the two executed well.

Defensively, the Blue Knights allowed just two shots on goal.

“(Dover-Sherborn) was a terrific opponent and we still played really well,” Beaton said.