KINGSTON — Among the eight elite girls hockey teams that face off in the power-packed Tenney Cup, Milton was the only one last season to go winless over its three games.

It’s now one win away from taking the whole tournament.

Senior Sabrina Stone netted four goals with an empty-netter Monday night, pairing with freshman Mia Cataruzolo (two goals, assist) and senior Nayeli Thayer (assist) for a top line eruption the No. 3 Wildcats (5-0) used to beat No. 2 Hingham, 6-2, in the tournament’s semifinal round at The Bog.

The defending Div. 2 state finalists were intent on a better showing than last year. Handing the reigning Div. 1 state champion Harborwomen (4-1-1) their first loss of the year to get to Wednesday’s final speaks volumes about their growth.

“This group is just built different,” said Milton head coach Matt Lodi. “They just come and they’re ready to go from the very beginning. I’ve never had a team like this in my coaching career that just has the IQ, has the tenacity, has the will. … We already know we belong. We made it to the Garden last year. Being in this tournament is not about proving we belong, it’s just about proving who we are. That’s done one game at a time and they take that to heart.”

“It’s obviously such a huge improvement from last year,” Stone added. “This tournament is a big statement for us to show who we are, who we became from the offseason. But we’re not at our full potential yet.”

Hingham did well to limit the damage Milton could do with its elite speed early on. It took a Cataruzolo highlight-reel goal with 3:25 left in the first to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead, but freshman Maggie Pollenz (goal, assist) needed less than three minutes into the second to pot the 1-1 equalizer for the Harborwomen.

As goalie Caera Hart (18 saves) and the defense impressed, though, Milton’s top line eventually caught steam.

Stone gathered a deflection off her initial shot in the right circle, and fired in a 2-1 lead with 7:08 left in the second. About two minutes later, a perfect pass from Cataruzolo set up Stone by the left post for a 3-1 advantage.

“Mia’s vision for the game, she sees the ice better than anyone I’ve ever coached,” Lodi said. “That pass she made … was phenomenal.”

Thayer’s shot off the pads midway through the third bounced to Cataruzolo in the slot, which she finished off with another highlight-reel goal – this time with one hand.

Pollenz’s wrap-around with 7:49 to go put a loose puck in front that Ellie Bellew (goal, assist) buried for a 4-2 Hingham deficit and some life, but Stone went bar-down for a natural hat trick to get the goal back before an empty-netter sealed the win.

“My linemates did such a good job setting me up all game,” Stone said. “I think we’ve clicked so fast this year.”

All six goals came from that top line.

“To us coaches, that’s the best line in the state,” Lodi said. “I’m not trying to sound overconfident by that, but they had all six goals today and they just establish a presence.”

Lodi spoke highly of Cataruzolo in the preseason, stepping into former star Molly Murphy’s role alongside Stone and Thayer.

She has nine goals and four assists in five games so far, second only to Stone’s 16 points.

“She has such a high hockey IQ,” Stone said. “She always makes the right plays. (She has) a very good shot too, but she’s not selfish at all. She’s really good.”

Much of the win is a credit to the defense, which contained Hingham’s attack in waves despite several promising looks. That includes two odd-man rushes that freshman Colette Gorham broke up without a shot on net – one of which came in a 4-2 game that could have easily become 4-3 if not for the disruption.

Mairin Hart, Elise Hinckle, Emily King and Gorham all stood out in a complete effort all-around.

“We ask a lot of our defense,” Lodi said. “We try to pride ourselves on an aggressive forecheck, which requires back-check like crazy. … It’s a really strong D-core, and that’s going to carry us a long way.”