Acton-Boxboro's Annie Nero (10) briefly tied the game at 1-1 with this goal. (Barry Chin / Globe Staff)

By Anthony Gulizia, Globe correspondent

There's one cardinal rule to obey when playing against Hingham's Catherine Linehan – do not give her any second chances.
 
If you do, she'll take advantage. And that's exactly what she did in the Division 1 state championship. The freshman forward slammed home two rebound goals to help Hingham (20-4-2) to a 3-1 victory over Acton-Boxboro (19-5-1) Sunday night at the TD Garden.
 
The Harbormen maintained the two-goal lead throughout the period, despite littering the net with 11 shots.
 
After the first intermission, Hingham stormed the ice and scored an early goal after sophomore defender Emily Falvey's slapshot fluttered past AB goaltender Cali Loblundo.
 
The 12-year old goaltender, who finished with 21 saves, made the initial save, but the puck deflected off her shoulder and bounced in.
 
However, the Colonials cut the deficit to one when Annie Nero lit the lamp just three minutes after Hingham’s score.
 
But Linehan and the Harbormen were not satisfied with the one-goal lead. With 3:59 remaining in the period, the freshman forward took a pass from senior defenseman Catherine Chittick and attacked the goal. But Loblundo made a stellar save and looked to have the puck in her possession. Before the play was whistled dead, Linehan aggressively poked at the puck and knocked it home for her second score of the day.
 
In the first period, Hingham jumped out to an early lead when freshman forward Catherine Linehan scored her eight goal of the season 11:56 into the first period.
 
Sophomore Sarah Schwenzeier put the initial shot on net, but Linehan controlled the rebound and sent the puck past Loblundo.
 
Acton Boxboro had an opportunity to tie things up after Hingham's Kaitlin Sullivan took a tripping penalty with 2:24 to play. However, the Harbormen were able to successfully kill the penalty.
 
Hingham senior goaltender Beth Findley put together a strong performance, saving 17 of AB's 18 shots.
 
The Harbormen, who captured the Division 2 state title in 2008, add to their trophy case with their first Division 1 title in school history.