The Whitman-Hanson and Natick girls’ soccer teams feature two of the best defenses in the state.

Neither side had allowed a postseason goal entering Sunday afternoon’s Division 1 South final at Milford High.

Given each side’s defensive prowess, there was little surprise that Whitman-Hanson needed penalty kicks to pull out a 1-0 win.

After 80 minutes and two scoreless 10-minute overtimes, the Panthers (20-1-1) received a sprawling save from sophomore keeper Skylar Kuzmich and a perfect 4-for-4 performance from their shooters to advance, 4-2, over the top-seeded Redhawks (19-2-0). Whitman-Hanson moves into a state semifinal against Central Catholic on Wednesday night at Manning Field in Lynn.

“I was just waiting for that moment to step forward and make a save,’’ Kuzmich said. “I knew [my teammates] would put it away.’’

Whitman-Hanson’s Lauren Bonavita, Katie Korzec, Taylor Kofton, and Sammi Smith converted their chances from the penalty spot. Natick sophomore Alex Campana pinged the left post on Natick’s second kick, and Kuzmich later denied senior Diana Bruggeman.

Scoring chances were at a premium all game long. Natick was one pass away several times in the first half, and Kofton had two headers denied — one by the post in the first half, the other by Natick senior keeper Ashley Bianco in the second frame.

The clean sheet represented Whitman-Hanson’s sixth consecutive shutout.

“Those kids were phenomenal in the back,’’ said coach Dave Floeck of his defense.

Kuzmich came up big in penalties, but Floeck said her biggest contribution often goes unnoticed.

“What people don’t understand is she does so much with her communication and organizing us,’’ Floeck said of his sophomore keeper.

“A lot of shots don’t happen because of what she does.’’

Natick was playing in its first Division 1 South final.

Whitman-Hanson lost to Needham in last year’s final, 2-1.

“I thought we were utterly dominant in the first half. We had a bunch of chances to score and it didn’t happen,’’ said Natick coach James Blackwell.

“To lose like that isn’t a reflection on where we’re at as a group . . . I couldn’t be prouder of them.’’

Division 1 North

Central Catholic 2, Acton-Boxborough 1 — The top-seeded Raiders (21-0) continued their perfect run, but they faced their stiffest challenge of the tourney at Manning Field.

Central had blanked Medford, 7-0, in the quarterfinals and Lincoln-Sudbury, 5-1, in the semis.

“I gotta credit [A-B coach Lee Billiard] over there,’’ Catholic Central coach Casey Grange said. “He definitely came with a game plan. We knew they were gonna play defensive and try to go for a counter-attack goal and then try to hold it.’’

In the 37th minute, junior Elayna Grillakis ripped a shot from just under 30 yards out that sailed over A-B keeper Alexandra Li.

The Raiders added to their lead 10 minutes into the second half. Senior Daria Bakhtiari hit a shot from 35 yards out that Li was able to save but not secure. Junior Ashley Raphael calmly collected the rebound and found the back of the net.

The Colonials (15-5-2), who had not played a tournament game that ended in regulation up until Sunday’s match, found the scoreboard seven minutes later.

Junior Alexandra Keohan launched a ball from 42 yards out that sailed over the head of Central keeper Amanda Fay.

But Central was finally able to celebrate a sectional crown at Manning Field.

“Honestly it’s like the best feeling ever,’’ Grillakis said. “This team has lost on this field a couple years in a row and it’s just awesome just to break it.’’

Said Grange, “It’s a special group,’’ Grange said. “They’re on a mission. They don’t talk about their record, they just talk about winning the next game.’’

Division 4 South

East Bridgewater 2, Rockland 1 — Locked in a 1-1 game early in the second half, East Bridgewater coach Brandon Boates told his players to settle down and play their game.

After senior Haley Griffin drilled the right post with a bid, classmate Sarah Lofstrom cleaned up the rebound, scoring the go-ahead goal as the top-seeded Vikings (20-1-1) captured the South title at Brockton High.

East Bridgewater will play Amesbury in a state semifinal at Norwell High on Wednesday.

Despite having a 24-2 edge in shots, East Bridgewater was not able to add an insurance goal.

“It felt like they were playing a prank on me at the end there just trying not to get that third goal,’’ said Boates.

East Bridgewater struck first on a header from Mackenzie Vlachos, but Rockland (13-5-2) answered on a tally from Brooke Jones.

“I sometimes get nervous when we score in the first couple minutes because I feel like we let our foot off the gas a little . . . but I’m not going to complain scoring in the second minute,’’ said Boates.

Division 4 North

Amesbury 4, St. Mary’s 0 — Senior Emma Richardson scored 4:54 in and junior Michaela Halloran double the margin with 1:30 left in the half, propelling the sixth-seeded Indians (13-4-5) to the sectional crown at Manning Field.

In the second half, Amesbury got goals from sophomore Chelsea Lynch and junior Ashley Pettet.

Cole McNanna contributed to this story from Brockton, and Alex and Ethan Schroeder from Lynn. For highlights, go to bostonglobe.com/schools.