Nashua North Souhegan's Will Dodge, shown here celebrating his OT goal vs. Goffstown, did it again Wednesday night with an overtime game-winner in the Divison I tourney prelims at Keene. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

The sixth season has been the charm.

The Nashua High School North-Souhegan hockey team made the tournament for the first time a year ago in its fifth year as a co-op.

Wednesday night, the Saber-Titans took things one better, getting the program’s first postseason win, 4-3 on Will Dodge’s goal in sudden death overtime over host Keene in the Region Four prelims.

Saber-Titans coach Bill Kotsifas could only watch on the livestream, as he was serving the last game of a four-game suspension for an ejection two weeks ago. But he saw what he’s been seeing all year, a team that gives great effort.

“These players are tough, they play hard until the final whistle,” Kotsifas said. “They’re 2-1 in three overtimes and they always fight hard.”

Kotsifas will be back behind the bench on Saturday when the Saber-Titans (5-4) next go to Hudson’s Cyclones Arena to take on the region’s top seed, Bishop Guertin, in the regional final/Divison I quarterfinal. The puck is set to drop at 4 p.m.

Last night North-Souhegan led Keene 2-1 after the first period on goals by Chris Weeden (Chris Sweetster, Ethan Gaffney assists) and Chas McBride (Mike and Will Dodge assists).

The Blackbirds knotted things with a second period goal, and the Saber-Titans grabbed a 3-2 lead on Peter Lennox’s goal at 5:32 of the third, with goalie Colin Duckless getting an assist.

But Keene’s Joel Beard got what could have been the heartbreaking equalizer with 3:27 left in regulation to send the game to OT.

Enter Will Dodge, who beat Goffstown with an overtime goal a little over a week ago. He did it again 2:30 into the extra session, assisted by McBride and brother Mike.

“Great team effort with four goals coming from four different players,” N-S assistant coach Mike Dodge said. “We got solid goaltending from Colin Duckless, especially early on to keep us in the game.”

And that’s not all that happened in local postseason play on Wednesday. Here’s a look:

DIVISION II PRELIMS

MERRIMACK 8,

ALVIRNE-MILFORD 0

The Tomahawks (9-4) got a hat trick and an assist from Evan Roy, and after taking a 5-0 first period never looked back in an all-local battle at West Side Arena.

Merrimack will now head to Manchester’s JFK Coliseum on Saturday night at 8 to take on unbeaten Manchester Memorial, which beat the ‘Hawks 6-5 last month.

But first they enjoyed things yesterday. Eliot Medlock had two goals and two assists, while Dylan Sadowski added two goals. Brayden Guagliumi added a goal.

Dom Carozza had two assists and Kyle Dunn added an assist.

The Admirals, meanwhile, saw their season end at 1-6.

BOYS BASKETBALL

DIVISION III PRELIMS

RAYMOND 53,

CAMPBELL 46

The host Cougars saw their season come to a close at 4-7. The two teams had two scheduled games against each other cancelled during the season due to the pandemic, but Raymond made the most of this one, advancing to its first quarterfinal in several years.

TONIGHT’S GAMES

The biggie is the rematch between the Nashua North and Bishop Guertin boys basketball teams, who square off in the Division I prelims/Region Four semi at 6 p.m. at North.

The 10-1 Titans rallied from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to pull out a 53-51 overtime win over the Cards (14-5) just last Friday at Titans Gym.

Also in boys hoop, Alvirne will visit Keene, the winner to meet the North/BG winner on Saturday. In Region Three, the Merrimack boys host Timberlane, which had edged Windham the other night in a ;play-in.

Merrimack has struggled, losing 13 straight after beating Salem in its season opener. Two of those losses came to the Owls, but take note: After a 49-33 loss in Plaistow, Merrimack fell just 56-55 at its own H. Dana Taylor Gym, and that’s where tonight’s game will be played.

In Division II, two locals will be in action. Hollis Brookline hosts Manchester West at 6 p.m., while Milford hosts Pelham at 5:15 p.m, both Regon Two prelims. The winners square off Saturday; the Cavs would host if they win tonight.

Finally, in Division III girls hoop, Campbell hosts St. Thomas in a Region Four prelim at 6 p.m.

On Friday, several local girls teams, in hoop and hockey, will be in action.

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