Mark Lee fully grasps how hard it is to win a state championship.

He is in his 30th year as the varsity boys’ hockey coach at his alma mater, St. Mary’s of Lynn. He has racked up 408 career wins.

One victory, however, remains elusive: a state title.

And that is why, as he stood outside a jubilant locker room at Tsongas Arena on Monday after a 3-1 win over Arlington Catholic, soaking in the atmosphere of his fifth sectional title, Lee could not help but crack a sly smirk when asked to compare this year’s St. Mary’s squad to those in the past.

“If we win the title on Sunday, it’ll be the best one yet,’’ he said.

On Sunday at TD Garden, St. Mary’s (21-5-1) will take on Franklin (16-3-5) for the Division 1 crown.

In her four seasons behind the girls’ bench at Austin Prep, Stephanie Wood has developed a program that is now a perennial contender.

On Sunday, her 21-2 Cougars will take on Arlington Catholic (20-1-1) for the Division 1 crown, seeking their first title. Her first team, in the 2012-13 season, earned the 21st seed with a 12-8-4 and won a pair of games in the tournament to advance to the quarterfinals.

Each year since, Prep has added at least two wins per season.

Wood credits a strong foundation of leadership from a senior class that has invested so much to the program because they have experienced ups and downs through their careers.

“They came into a challenge four years ago and it’s been key that they’ve bought in and played a big role in the revamping process,’’ said the coach. “

“They’ve brought the underclassman up to speed quickly to the point where players of all ages are providing time.’’

The St. Mary’s boys ended the regular season with back-to-back losses, sealing their position firmly outside of Super 8 qualification. As the fourth seeded in the Division 1 North bracket, the Spartans ripped off four straight wins, ousting Triton Regional, Chelmsford, Arlington, and Arlington Catholic behind the stellar play of Andrew LoRusso.

“You don’t get this far in the tournament without a goalie like him,’’ Lee said.

“His best games of the season have been our playoff games. He’s stepping up at a perfect time.’’

In his first postseason as the starter, LoRusso has allowed four goals in four games, a stark contrast to the end of the regular season, when he yielded nine in two games.

He used the week off to work on his game.

“I had to take a step back and remember that our season would be over if things didn’t change, and quickly,’’ LoRusso said.

Lee said his goalie “worked harder than anyone else in those practices and he came into our first game with confidence,’’ Lee said.

His confidence has only increased.

LoRusso has steadily played with aggressiveness, attacking the puck and setting a tenor of consistency in the defensive end. That consistency, and his intensity, has rubbed off of his teammates.

“Once he starts stringing along big saves, the rest of the team is able to play better and comfortable hockey,’’ senior defenseman Brady McLaughlin said.

“Knowing that we have a goalie behind us who wants it just as bad as us is huge, and he’s been having shutdown games to match that.’’

With LoRusso and Co. controlling the back third and forwards such as junior center Dante Maribito, the Catholic Central MVP, crashing the net at the other end, Lee has a golden opportunity to hoist the hardware at TD Garden.

His players are quite aware.

“Getting him a state title would be so great,’’ said junior defenseman Andrew Kreamer, an assistant captain.

“He’s given so much to this program. There’s really no better way to repay him.’’

At Austin Prep, Wood has earned praise for getting her players to buy in.

“Coach Stephanie has been good at getting girls into the program that are excited about making it deep into the postseason,’’ said goalie Caty Flagg, a senior captain who is the program’s career leader in shutouts (25).

“We’ve always had a group of hard workers under her, but I think this year we just have a lot more skill.’’

After being denied in the state semifinals each of the past two years, the Cougars entered this season highly-motivated.

“Since the preseason, the team has been working on a whole different level than past seasons,’’ said Cally Chase , a senior defender. Chase has played for the varsity team since the eighth grade.

“Something about this team is a little more special than previous years.’’

Arlington Catholic dealt Austin Prep its only two losses of the regular season, and has won all 11 matchups covering the past five seasons.

But Wood and her team have faith in finishing what has been a four-year evolution.

“We know we’re so close,’’ said Prep senior defender Jamiee Cook .

“This is the year.’’

Ethan Schroeder can be reached at ethan.schroeder@globe.com.