Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua South's Rory Olsen keeps an eye on Merrimack's Connor Lanigan (3) during Saturday night's Division I quarterfinal in Bedford. Olsen has two playoff game-winning goals for the Panthers, who head to Winnacunnet today in the Division I semis.

They’ve been arguably the best boys soccer team in the area all season.

And now, the Nashua High School South Purple Panthers have their fate in front of them.

The 11-1 Panthers, who face Winnacunnet (10-2-2) today at 4 p.m. in the Division I semifinals in Hampton, are in a good position after battling their way through a gauntlet of local opponents in Region Four. It’s South’s first semifinal appearance ever.

In other tourney games today, Souhegan is at Bow at 2 p.m. in the Division II semis, while in the Division I girls volleyball semis, Hollis Brookline hosts Londonderry at 5 p.m.

On Thursday, there are three girls soccer semis with locals. Bishop Guertin is at Exeter at 3 p.m. while Milford is at Bow, also at 3 p.m. And in Division III, Campbell will be at Raymond.

Also Thursday, the Campbell girls volleyball team will take on Gilford in the Division II semis at Gilford at 6 p.m.

Here’s a glance at everything:

BOYS SOCCER SEMIS

DIVISON I

The Panthers found out almost the hard way that tournament soccer is much tougher as many lower seeded teams will get into a defensive mode and hope for overtime or penalty kicks, or to make the most of the one or two chances they’ll get.

The Panthers topped city rivals Nashua North 1-0 and Bishop Guertin 2-1, and then Merrimack 1-0. The 1-0 games were both won by the foot of sophomore Rory Olsen; against BG they benefitted from an own goal.

And now today it’s on to Winnacunnet of Hampton for a 4 p.m. Division I semifinal. It will be on grass and on a smaller field, which limits a team like South with speed. And the Warriors are 10-2-2.

South got banged up in the Merrimack win, but as Panthers coach Tom Bellen said, “We’re deep, we can run with teams. Their (Winnacunnet’s) little field is not my favorite, but we’ll make it work.”

If the Panthers win today, they likely will host the Division I final against either Hanover or Windham Saturday at Stellos Stadium.

DIVISION II

Also today, Souhegan (4-4-1 will head to Bow to take on the Falcons in the Division II semis. The Sabers fought their way through their region, upsetting Hollis Brookline in the quarters and now have a simple slogan: “Believe!.”

Souhegan has a steady keeper in Jake Morrisette, and in the win over HB, longtime Sabers coach Dave Saxe had his team shed any playoff nerves.

“Playing smart, using the ball, space and the clock well was a key factor,” Saxe said.

It won’t be easy. Bow (6-0-3) edged Stevens 1-0 but then handled Lebanon 3-1 to reach the semis. Today’s winner goes to either Oyster River or Merrimack Valley in the finals on Saturday at 2 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER SEMIS

DIVISION I

The Guertin-Exeter is a matchup of unbeatens many likely have been looking forward to, perhaps currently the two top programs in Division I.

Like South, the Cards have found that tourney soccer isn’t the easiest. Merrimack and Nashua North played them tough, but then Alvirne took them to overtime on Sunday before Martha Lord scored to give them a 3-2 win.

The Blue Hawks cruised through their region, dominating the seacoast teams during the regular season and tourney, outscoring the opposition 12-1 in three playoff games. Both teams are deep but you can bet the Blue Hawks will focus on trying to neutralize Cards sophomore Brooke Paquette.

“It will be a proper test for the girls,” Cards coach Winston Haughton said. “They (the Blue Hawks) present so many threats all over the field, so I think it’s obvious we have to be on our game to stand any chance. But having seen the girls this week in preparation, they’re ready to compete.”

The winner will host either Windham or Goffstown in the finals on Sunday.

DIVISION II

Bow (8-0-2) won two tough games, 2-0 over John Stark and 1-0 over Lebanon, while the Spartans (7-0) edged Pelham 1-0 and then got a hat trick from Rachel Gizzonio in a 12-minute span to beat a very good Hollis Brookline team in the quarters. The winner faces either Merrimack Valley or Pembroke, on the road, in Sunday’s finals.

DIVISION III

The Campbell girls were just a couple of minutes away from elimination against Trinity when they rallied to tie it and then win in penalty kicks in their play-in game. Then they handled Conant and Fall Mountain, both on the road.

In the FM win, Karleigh Schultz, their key, had three goals while Brooke Stoncius added one. They are red hot at 6-5; remember, the Cougars’ 3-5 regular season included a lot of games vs. Division II and I teams to limit travel.

Raymond (9-0) meanwhile, beat some tough teams by a combined 9-1 tally – Prospect Mountain, Derryfield and St. Thomas. The winner of this one will host Sunday’s finals against either Belmont or Hopkinton.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL SEMIS

DIVISION I

The Cavaliers are saving their best for last as they’ve won nine of 10 sets in three tournament games. The only set they lost was the opening one in a prelim win over Nashua North.

HB has gotten great play lately from Sarah Dreyer and Cheyenne Colbert, among others. Londonderry, meanwhile, is 6-4, and the winner of this takes on either Bedford or Spaulding in the finals on Saturday. The Bulldogs are unbeaten, including two wins over the Cavs, and many are anticipating that to be the final.

DIVISION II

The 11-4 Cougars have been playing in Division II, and edged a good Milford team in the quarters to get this far, getting great play from senior captain Chloe Steiniger.

Gilford is 9-1, (lost to Plymouth), and has not lost a set in the tourney thus far. The winner hosts either John Stark or St.Thomas on Saturday.

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