It was understandable that the Broadneck field hockey team was a little nervous entering its Class 4A semifinal game against Frederick yesterday at Goucher College.

The Bruins were making their first state semifinal appearance since 1986, the year they won the Class 3A state title. A higher class level and 16 years later, Broadneck returned to a state championship game by beating the Cadets, 2-1.

Broadneck (11-4-1) will meet last year's Class 4A co-champion, Westminster (8-5-2), tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Goucher for the title.

"We'e ready for Saturday," said Broadneck's first-year coach, Melissa Quigley. "I kept telling the team [this week] that we're practicing Friday and playing on Saturday."

All was not easy for the Bruins, who survived a close call in the opening minute. Frederick senior captain Julia Enea launched a high shot into the Bruins' cage past senior goalie Lisa Scarborough (three saves) for an apparent goal, but Enea was called for undercutting the ball and the goal was waved off.

"It was really nerve-racking, but once they got the first shot off, I realized that any team has faults and we just had to step it up and keep playing hard," said Scarborough.

The Bruins stormed back as junior Amy Skrickus worked the left corner against Cadets junior goalie Sara Downs (11 saves) and scored the game's first goal at the 27:17 mark.

Broadneck kept Downs and the Cadets' defense on their heels as they scored their second goal 57 seconds later, this time on another goal by Skrickus.

"Our girls start off strong all the time," said Quigley. "So getting two goals in really quickly relieves a little pressure from them."

With the back-to-back goals, Frederick coach Kelly Kerns was forced to call time and regroup her team.

"It was kind of a letdown for them," said Kern about the called-off Cadets goal. "[Broadneck] went into the corner and did something different that we haven't seen all year and scored. Then they did it again right away and we had to call a timeout and settle down and refocus.

"At that point, we were really moving the ball well; we just couldn't put the finishing touches on it."

The timeout seemed to help Frederick as junior Susan Buckley put home the Cadets' lone goal of the day with 21:35 remaining in the half.

The second half turned into a defensive battle as each team struggled for possession. Numerous corner attempts went unrewarded.