NORTHFIELD, Vt. — Saturday’s VPA Division II boys lacrosse final between Hartford High and Harwood Union High began with a Highlander goal and the scorer immediately running towards the Hurricanes’ student section with a finger to his mask.

Ninety minutes later, however, Hartford and its supporters were in full and unrestrained voice after winning a second consecutive title, this time by a 13-7 score. The Hurricanes finished 18-1 and are 36-1 the past two seasons, their only loss coming against Division I semifinalist Woodstock.

“The feeling never gets old,” said seventh-year Hartford coach Grant Whiteway. “It’s always special, especially for our senior group. You get everyone’s best shot at you when you’re the defending champion.”

Hartford trailed, 3-2, after a quarter and led, 5-4, at halftime. The Hurricanes rattled off five consecutive goals after intermission and held a 10-5 lead following the third quarter. Any thoughts of a comeback for the Highlanders (13-3) disappeared when they surrendered the final stanza’s first three goals.

“We knew we had to come out in the second half and turn it on,” said midfielder Brayden Trombly. “We were ready to rip, and they weren’t ready for that knockout punch.”

Ezra Mock had four goals and Trombly three for the Hurricanes, who also received two strikes each from Austin St. Peter and Cavan Benjamin. Graham Thompson made eight saves.

After five fruitless trips to the finals in Divisions II and III, Hartford broke through last season for the first title in program history. The Hurricanes are 109-27 the last eight years.

“This has a certain specialness to it, because I was 0-2 in the last two state championship games,” said Trombly, part of finalist teams in football and basketball earlier in the school year.

“It was hot out here, and I think (Harwood) was pretty gassed and demoralized.”

Whiteway said his team’s midfield depth wore the Highlanders down. The northern Vermonters had two or three standouts who played nearly the entire game, while Hartford was continually hustling players on and off the field.

“We run so many middies that we know we’re going to have fresh legs down the stretch,” Whiteway said. “We trust a lot of our guys to play offense and defense, not just one or the other.”

Hartford, skilled at passing the ball and creating assisted goals, on Saturday took more of a one-on-one approach. Hurricanes dodged aggressively and shot often, leading to good looks at the net behind Highlander goaltender Evan Andrews.

“We knew where the matchups were that we could take advantage of,” Trombly said. “We knew help defense wasn’t their strong suit, so if we could beat our guy we could get to the net.”

The senior paused and looked around. Football at Maine’s Husson College is next for Trombly, a coach’s son who played three sports in high school and who aspires to become a teacher.

“We graduated last night, so it’s surreal to think I’m not in high school anymore,” he said. “This was my last, real high school activity.”

Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.