Telegraph photo by TOM KING Both Nashua South's Kaitlyn West (11) and Nashua North's Madlyn Phillips will get a taste of state tourney play this week, beginning today when South hosts Merrimack in a Division I play-in game at Stellos Stadium.

Tourney time has begun.

So soon, you say? Remember, thanks to COVID-19, it was an abbreviated regular season. And now it’s a post season week for the area’s field hockey teams, as the state tournament starts today for some.

Merrimack which has only had three games and has been idle for over a week, will visit Stellos Stadium today to take on a 3-4-1 Nashua South team that was able to get a fill-in game with Nashua North late last week. Remember, two games with the Tomahawks last week was cancelled due to virus precautions.

That is one of two play-in games in the area, as the pairings were allegedly – and literally — drawn out of a hat to be fair to all because of all the pandemic-related scheduling inequities. Also, in all divisions, they were done according to their schdule groupings. Thus, Merrimack, BG, North and South are all in one bracket; Hollis Brookline, Milford and Souhegan are all in the same in Division II.

The other play-in game today features Milford hosting Derryfield at 4 p.m.

The winners advance to Wednesday’s prelims. The South-Merrimack winner will take on Bishop Guertin Wednesday, also at 3 p.m. at Stellos.

Nashua North, meanwhile, will be playing in its first postseason game in the last few years and will visit Keene on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a prelim. All these locals are part of Region One. The quarterfinals are Saturday.

The favorite in Division II has to be 9-0 Souhegan. The Sabers will visit Hollis Brookline on Thusday, also at 3 p.m. Milford’s play-in game winner goes to Goffstown Thursday. All are part of Region Four, and the quarterfinals are next Monday.

“It makes sense to me the way it got set up,” said Sabers coach and athletic director Kelli Braley, who is also on the NHIAA field hockey committee. “We looked at the regions, and tried to base it on who everybody played in the regular season so at least for two rounds we could keep everybody in their bubble and then branch out for the semis and finals.”

“We’re super excited to play Merrimack on Monday,” Panthers coach Ciki McIntire said. “We were kind of bummed to lose those games this week but I guess everything works out.

“We still have a lot to work on. It’ll be good to see Merrimack here, on the turf.”

It’s a unique tournament, to say the least. Expect the same in another week with soccer and volleyball. Remember, these are open tournaments (every team gets in).

“It’s the year of COVID,” McIntire said. “Anything goes this year. We’ll make the best of it and hopefully compete (today).”

“Just to have the extra week of practice, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” North coach Robert Hailey said. “Typically that time of the season everyone’s cleaning out their lockers. To know we’re out there the extra week, and have the opportunity in the tournament like that is something the girls have been looking forward to for years.”

DIVISION I, III GOLF TEAM TOURNEYS ON TUESDAY

Yes, don’t forget there are two other golf divisions yet to hold their team tournaments thanks to last Tuesday’s washout, so this Tuesday they’ll try again.

Nashua North, South, Bishop Guertin and Merrimack will all hike up to Mt. Washington Resort Golf Club to vie for a state title as well as get their top golfers qualified for the state individual event to be held next Sunday. The Titans’ Bryce Zimmerman is the two-time defending champion and will be looking for his third title. “Zimmerman has been playing well all season,” North coach Scott Anderson said.

Teams such as Bedford (an incredible six-time defending champ), Concord and Exeter are considered the favorites. The last time the Bulldogs weren’t on top was in 2013 when Bishop Guertin won.

“North could make a run at it,” Anderson said.

Meanwhile, Campbell will compete in the Division III tourney at Derryfield Country Club. Teams will be looking to unseat defending champ Derryfield School.

Once again, the second day of the individuals is now next Sunday with Division I now at Concord Country Club, Division II at Windham, Division III at Concord CC, and Division IV at Souhegan Woods.

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