Hopkinton High School girls golf coach Bill Phaneuf celebrates the team’s sectional title Tuesday with (from left) Gigi Linton, Maddie Fitzpatrick, Leah Hong, Reese Robledo, Bridget Wilk, Lucy Stevenson and assistant coach Patricia Noblett. PHOTO/MAREESA ROBLEDO

With a 13-0-2 record in the regular season, the Hopkinton High School girls golf team had reason to be confident heading into Tuesday’s North/Central/West sectional championship at Ellinwood Country Club in Athol.

“They were overly optimistic about doing well and were even talking about winning the whole thing today,” coach Bill Phaneuf recalled. “A little of that comes from them having a great season. I cautioned them that this is the best of the best today. It’s not like the regular season. It’s the next level.”

In the end, the Hillers’ confidence proved to be deserved, as they cruised to a 16-stroke victory and the young program’s first sectional title.

Hopkinton finished with a team total of 369, well ahead of runner-up Notre Dame Academy of Worcester (385) and third-place Wellesley (389).

Gigi Linton led the way for Hopkinton, finishing tied for seventh with a 13-over-par 84. Reese Robledo tied for 15th with a 90, Leah Hong tied for 20th at 92 and Bridget Wilk tied for 36th with a 103 to cap the HHS scoring. Also for the Hillers, Maddie Fitzpatrick was 49th with a 111, and Lucy Stevenson finished 59th at 117.

While the Hillers had an “air of confidence,” according to Phaneuf, when it was over, the girls appreciated their accomplishment.

“When we were done, I did hear, ‘I can’t believe this, we actually won,’ ” Phaneuf said. “Thinking you can do it is one thing, doing it is a far different thing. They knew they had to put up some good golf.”

With the win, Hopkinton advances to Monday’s state championship at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston and will enter as one of the favorites.

Phaneuf said the Hillers’ depth is the key to their success.

“We have six kids who can play golf pretty well,” Phaneuf said. “There are very few teams that have six players who can play at that level. Most teams have one or two, some have three or four. Having six is the reason we are where we are.”

Girls lax loses tight game

The HHS girls lacrosse team saw its season come to an end Tuesday with a 13-12 loss to host Central Catholic in a Division 1 first-round game in Lawrence.

Hopkinton (14-5), the 20th seed, scored the game’s first four goals, but 13th-seeded Central Catholic (9-10) rallied for the win. Avery Quebec led the Hillers with three goals and four assists. Taylor Interrante and Cadyn Rosendale scored three goals apiece, while Abby Burke had two goals and two assists. Dylan Norred made 12 saves in the HHS goal.

Boys VB opens Thursday

The HHS boys volleyball team (12-6) earned its first tournament berth in the program’s third year. The 34th-seeded Hillers learned Tuesday that they will visit 31st-seeded Woburn (12-8) in a preliminary-round game Thursday at 7 p.m. (NOTE: Changed from the original date of Friday).