It’s been a long soccer season for both of the Division I girls soccer state championship contenders. Playing a combined 38 games for both No. 6 Franklin and No. 4 Natick, the season will reach its ultimate end on Saturday at Doyle Field in Leominster for the championship game.

Saturday will be the Panthers’ first state tournament final appearance since 2012.

To reach the final, Franklin shut out Concord-Carlisle 2-0 in the semifinal round.

In the quarter finals, the Panthers faced Hopkinton, winning 4-3 on their home field.

In its first game of the post-season, in the round of 32, the Panthers took down Shrewsbury 4-2. In its next game, Franklin scored two when it faced Lincoln-Sudbury Regional in the round of 16.

During the regular season, the Panthers went 9-5-2. Franklin ended its

See Full Page