BRIDGEWATER – The senior-laden Hingham field hockey team isn’t yet done shattering its ceilings.

After falling in each of the last two Div. 2 Final Fours – the first two trips in program history – the No. 1 Harbormen (20-1-1) made three their magic number Thursday night with a 4-1 state semifinal win over No. 4 Canton at Bridgewater-Raynham High School.

Depth was once again at the forefront of an impressive win on both ends for Hingham, holding off several dangerous Bulldogs (16-2-4) possessions before a three-goal second half separated it. Senior Caitlin Patten scored twice in a well-balanced attack.

Now 13 seniors who have pioneered a major shift to turn the program into a perennial power the last few years get to enjoy the Harbormen’s first state final appearance on Saturday at Burlington High School.

They play No. 3 Somerset-Berkley at 2:30 p.m.

“I think we knew we were capable of it, but we just never allowed ourselves to imagine past the next game,” said Hingham head coach Susan Petrie. “They have worked so hard for so long together. … It’s awesome. They just believe in each other so much. It’s not an over-confidence thing, it’s not a cockiness – they just know that whatever happens, their teammates will be there for them.”

“It means everything (to break through),” added senior captain Ryan Hallisey. “It’s just so exciting. … At the beginning of the game I was nervous, they’re a really good team. I’m just so proud of us. This means so much. I’m so excited.”

Canton’s Grace Martinek, left, and Hingham’s Libby Baxter chase a ball in flight during Hingham’s 4-1 field hockey win. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

Canton presented every bit of the challenge that led it to a second straight Final Four trip, applying heavy offensive pressure in waves behind 100-point scorers senior Carolyn Schiavo and junior Shannon Lane.

But Hallisey, senior Kaitlyn Manning, sophomore Sam McCabe (defensive save) and sophomore Claire LaRonde especially stood out in helping Molly McDonald (seven saves) post a shutout until the final two minutes.

Back-and-forth teams traded transitions in the first period, but Hingham finally gained an edge five minutes into the second quarter with Patten’s first goal for a 1-0 lead.

“After our first goal, it just showed us that we can score in this game,” Hallisey said. “That we really do have it. … It was really back-and-forth. It was nice to see that we could pull off a goal and keep scoring.”

Canton brought a bit of a storm offensively in response, but couldn’t break through. Despite the pressure and three corners, Hingham allowed just two shots on goal in the frame to head into the half with a 1-0 lead.

“We knew how good they were,” Petrie said. “We practiced hard. … We were really prepared for (the challenge) and we knew if we could hang tough at first, and breaking through with that first goal was huge. And it just really allowed our confidence to build.”

From there, Hingham controlled much of the momentum.

Libby Baxter powered in a 2-0 lead on a fast break midway through the third quarter. Hingham maintained pressure upfield, which Bulldogs defenders did well to hold off for a two-goal deficit entering the fourth.

But a miscue on a send from well outside the circle left a loose ball just sitting around the stroke line off goalie Shealyn Murphy’s (five saves) pads, and Patten crashed on it to extend the lead to 3-0. Ella O’Neill added another goal with 4:04 left, following her own rebound in front.

Lane scored on a corner for Canton in the final two minutes, but there wasn’t enough time to stage a comeback.