BANGOR — For the fifth time in the last six seasons, the Hermon girls soccer team is heading to the state final.

Thanks to a strong, consistent attack, the No. 2 Hawks cruised to a 5-0 win over No. 5 Skowhegan in the Class B North title game Thursday at Cameron Stadium. Tessa Ewer scored two goals, while Mya Lancaster, Payton Guerrette and Madison Stewart each added a goal.

“It feels so good,” said Ewer, a senior forward. “We worked so hard for this, it’s just good to see the payout.”

Hermon (17-0) will meet Class B South champion Cape Elizabeth in the state final at 11 a.m. Saturday at Edward Little High School in Auburn. The Capers (17-0) beat Yarmouth 2-0 to win the South title.

Goalkeeper Natalie Cooke made eight saves for the River Hawks (15-2-1), who were playing in their first-ever regional final.

It’s the second consecutive regional title for Hermon and fifth since 2019. The Hawks are still in search of their first state championship. Last year, they fell 3-1 to Greely in the Class B final.

“We have a really good group this year,” Ewer said. “This is really important for us, especially the seniors, to take it all the way this year.”

Added Hermon coach MJ Ball: “Our goal from the beginning was to get back to states. We had a sour taste in our mouths from last year. This is our seventh trip to states and we’re still the bridesmaids. We’re going to keep pushing. We’ll go back and watch tape on Cape and prepare (Friday), and Saturday is a quick turnaround. We’re just excited to be back in that arena for these girls.”

The Hawks dominated possession and shots in the first half. They scored their first goal eight minutes into the match. Ewer was awarded a penalty kick after being tripped up near the Skowhegan net, and she took advantage, knocking a shot past a diving attempt by Cooke.

“It’s always good for us to get the first goal out of the way; it gets us amped up,” Ewer said. “It sets the tone for the whole game. I was a little nervous kicking it, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hand it off (for someone else to kick) or not.”

“There’s always nervous energy when you get into games like this,” Ball added. “Getting that goal certainly helped. Tessa did a great job getting around the (Skowhegan defender) and got taken out. Our rule is, if you earn the PK, you have the right to take it. She stepped up and took it. It was awesome.”

Hermon added its second goal with 11:39 remaining in the first half when Lancaster blasted a shot from 21 yards that bounced off the inside of the post.

The Hawks outshot Skowhegan by a 12-4 margin in the first half.

Any Skowhegan hope for a comeback was put away early in the second half when Guerrette blasted a shot from 35 yards that sailed over Cooke’s head and into the net for a 3-0 lead. Ewers scored again with 12:53 left, hitting a cross that deflected off a defender and into the net.

Stewart wrapped up the scoring with 11 seconds remaining, knocking a high shot that deflected off Cooke’s hand and into the net.

“Anybody can score any time,” Ball said. “They’re all unselfish. They don’t care who scores, as long as it goes in the back of the net. That obviously helps in a team environment. We hope to put five on the board on Saturday.”

Skowhegan showed fight throughout the match, and Cooke did an excellent job turning away a heavy barrage of shots.

“I’m so proud (of the team), and it’s hard,” said an emotional Mike Herrick, Skowhegan’s coach. “(Hermon) is a great team. But what we did, having 11 more wins this year than they did last year, they’re going to look back and they’re going to be so freaking proud of themselves.”