HOLYOKE - The Northampton field hockey team set three progressively tougher goals heading into the 2011 season: Make the tournament for the first time since 2004. Win the Central League. Win the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament.

With two out of three under their belt, the No. 2-seeded Blue Devils couldn't pull off the third as Agawam was dominant from the outset and beat Northampton 3-0 in the tournament semifinals at Holyoke High School Wednesday.

The Brownies will play No. 1 Longmeadow for the championship at Mount Holyoke College on Friday at 1 p.m. Northampton completed its season at 14-4-1.

"This was a tremendous step," Northampton coach Kathleen Ralls said. "It was more than double our wins from last year."

The October snowstorm left the Blue Devils without a game for 17 days and they struggled to find continuity, especially early. But Ralls said the Brownies play was a much bigger factor than her team's layoff.

"I think Agawam is a really good team," Ralls said. "I give all the credit to them."

The Brownies had a goal called back 7 minutes, 2 seconds into the game as the shot came from just outside the circle.

But they broke through with 21:17 left in the half when Caroline Daubitz tapped home a Becca Fonakowski assist in traffic off of a penalty corner in front of Hamp goalie Mary Greco to put Agawam ahead 1-0. The Blue Devils haven't won all season without scoring first.

Agawam outcornered Hamp 6-0 in the first half and nearly turned a late one into its second goal, but Greco stopped four shots in one late flurry and defender Anna Ross blocked another to keep the game tight.

The Blue Devils produced their best attack of the game right away in the second half, but Meghan Harrington's shot rolled just wide of the goal.

Agawam doubled its lead when Allison McCluskey's bouncing ball skipped off Greco's pads into the net.

The Brownies kept the pressure on throughout. Kristina Kopyscinski scored on an arching shot off of a Megan Cecchi assist to make it 3-0.

Agawam didn't allow a single penalty corner and earned 14 in the game. Greco finished with fives saves, while neither Jillian Newton, nor her late replacement Jordyn Conway, needed to make one for the Brownies.

It was the final game for seniors Sara Kanig, Harrington and Ross as Northampton returns a sizable nucleus.

"The seniors really set a foundation for really high success for the program," Ralls said.

In the postgame huddle, Ross told her returning teammates to complete the third goal.

"Anna Ross said 'We accomplished our first two goals. I guess we can't have it all. Go get it next year,'" Ralls said.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com.c