EXETER — Twin sisters Berklee and Colbi Vaillancourt each scored a goal to lift two-time defending state champion Derryfield of Manchester to a 2-1 win over 12th-seeded Newfound Regional of Bristol in the semifinals of the Division III NHIAA field hockey tournament Tuesday at Bill Ball Stadium.

Jenna Arguin, Jensyn Dandeneau and Erika Gendron each tallied a first half goal to lead second-ranked Berlin to a 4-0 victory over sixth-ranked Hopkinton in the other semifinal contest.

Derryfield and Berlin will play for the state title on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Bedford High.

Derryfield 2, Newfound 1

In the nightcap, Newfound and Derryfield entered the game having won the last six state titles between them. Newfound won the crown in 2006, 2008 and 2009, while the Cougars captured the last two and one in 2007.

Newfound was facing an explosive Derryfield offense that had scored 79 goals entering Tuesday night's contest. But the Bears did a good job containing the Cougars' offense by attacking Derryfield on offense.

Newfound created five corner tries through the first 20 minutes, and, although the Bears didn't cash in, Derryfield was forced to defend its net for most of the half.

Finally, with 9:49 left in the first half, the Cougars turned to standout junior forward Colbi Vaillancourt, whose eight-yard reverse stick shot from the middle deflected off the leg pad of goalie Kaitlyn Welch and rolled into the cage.

Newfound, which lost 1-0 to Derryfield in Bristol in August, didn't lose its confidence. Three minutes later, against a Derryfield defense that had registered 13 shutout wins with four goals allowed all season, Newfound tied the game on a goal from Karissa Bony off a rebound from Cougar goalie Lulu Carter.

“Lulu played a strong game and was called upon to make some big stops for us,” said Derryfield coach Lenny McCaigue. “This was a game of momentum shifts and we ended up keeping the momentum when Berklee scored the winning goal.”

It was 1-1 by halftime and defenses had played well. Seniors Savannah Lavoie and Molly Provencher each protected Carter while for the Bears, starters Hailey McAfee, Brittany McArthur and Kayla Messersmith were doing a solid job holding off Derryfield's offense.

Derryfield surged ahead with 13:17 left in the game. Berklee Vaillancourt hit a running shot that bounced off Welch into the cage.

It was the 17th goal for Berklee and the 23rd for Colbi on the season.

“Berklee saw the defense wasn't set and just ran into the ball from five yards on the free hit, which caught Newfound off guard,” said McCaigue. “Give Newfound credit. They have fast forwards and at times they held the momentum. But our kids know how to win close games in tournament play.”

Derryfield improved to 16-1 entering its sixth championship game in a 10-year span. The Cougars have reached the semifinals 10 straight seasons.

Berlin 4, Hopkinton 0

Berlin, looking for its first state title since 2005, used its speed and accurate passing to set the tempo from the opening minute.

The Mountaineers scored their first goal 3:59 into the game off a corner try. Dandeneau settled the ball before wristing home a four-yard shot for the 1-0 lead.

Berlin continued the assault on offense and it paid off 2:17 later when, in traffic, Gendron tallied at the 6:16 mark.

Down 2-0, Hopkinton coach Patricia Connolly called timeout just to remind her team that the game was still young.

But Berlin kept applying pressure and against a Hopkinton defense that had allowed an average of one goal per game, the lead swelled to 3-0 when Arguin tipped home a ball that snaked past the defenders.

Hopkinton almost got a goal back in the final minute of the first half, but Berlin goalie Morgan Ouellet managed to kick the ball away inches from crossing the goal line.

Considering Berlin entered the game with 10 shutouts and only nine goals allowed all season, Hopkinton entered the second half in a very deep hole.

Behind forwards Maria Booth, Maddie Sorel, and Brittany Marshall, the Hawks showed some spirit and determination early in the second half. But they just couldn’t finish off any drives and the pressure just mounted as time started dwindling against them.

Berlin iced the game, getting a late goal from Morgan Boucher, giving her 20 on the season.

“I told my girls that we had to start off fast,” said Berlin head coach Nicole Arguin. “We actually caught Hopkinton off guard with our fast tempo. After we took a 2-0 lead, we felt we just had to contain Booth and Marshall who are very good players for them.”

Connolly said falling behind Berlin 3-0 at halftime was a tough hill to climb.

“We came out flat and it cost us,” said Connolly. “We didn’t play the way we did during the regular season, didn’t play the style that got us here. I tried to settle the team down when I called time-out when Berlin led 2-0. But it just wasn’t out night.”

Hopkinton ended its season at 12-5 while Berlin (15-2) advanced to Sunday's title game against Derryfield seeking its seventh overall state title.