CONCORD, Mass. - Third-seeded Middlesex got the game winning goal from Alex Hood (Winchester, Mass.) a little more than halfway through the first overtime period and the host Zebras punched their ticket to the semifinals with a heart stopping, 3-2 triumph over sixth seeded Berkshire on Wednesday afternoon.

Middlesex will travel to No. 2 seed Williston Northampton on Saturday, November 15 at a time to be announced later. The Wildcats knocked off seventh-seeded Dexter Southfield by a 2-1 score on Wednesday as well.

Berkshire, who dropped a 3-0 decision to MX in the quarterfinal round in 2023, wasted little time getting on the board as they rattled the cage less than two minutes into the game for an early 1-0 advantage.

Things stayed that way until late in the second quarter when Sarah Smith (Acton, Mass.) connected with Avery Swenson (Concord, Mass.) for the game tying strike with 2:30 left in the first half.

The Bears answered back almost immediately, however, going ahead 2-1 and taking that advantage into intermission.

Middlesex opened the second half with a Lily McTeague (North Reading, Mass.) tally less than four minutes into the third quarter, evening the score at 2-2.

The score remained that way until 4:23 remained in the first extra frame when Ali Marsters (East Falmouth, Mass.) fired a pass out in front of the goal that Hood deflected past the Berkshire keeper for the game winner, sending the Zebras into the next round and their raucous home fans into a frenzy.

Saturday's matchup with Williston will be the latest installment in a rivalry that has already seen the two teams face off twice in two of the last three postseasons.

Middlesex topped the Wildcats in the 2022 Class B semifinals, 3-0, but Williston won a thrilling Class B Championship game, 4-3 in double overtime last season.

The run for the Zebras has been incredibly impressive. This will be their fifth straight trip to the semifinal round and the senior class has amassed a career record of 64-11-1, including a home record of 36-2-1.