Campbell's Brody Mills (10) heads in the game's first goal as all Inter-Lakes' Brad Leberman can do is watch during the Cougars' 11-0 prelim win Tuesday in Litchfield. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

LITCHFIELD – There was no calm before this big red storm on Tuesday.

No, the Campbell High School boys soccer team, like the wind and rain these last couple of days, just kept coming and coming and coming at Inter-Lakes goaltender Alex Potter, resulting in a resounding 11-0 Division III preliminary round tourney win.

“I definitely think we’re hitting our stride of late,” Cougars first year coach Brian Henderson said. “I feel as far as linking up, getting a goal, and even some of our shots on goal, much cleaner.

“We built on the beginning of the year up to this point, so we’re definitely excited for the playoffs.”

The message? Don’t sleep on the Cougars, who finished the regular season 13-2-1, extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games, and of course have a championship pedigree with back-to-back titles in 2018-19.

They now advance to host a quarterfinal game Friday vs. No. 6 Mascoma Valley, who just got by No. 11 Fall Mountain in their prelim yesterday.

That was under now former coach Bill Miller, who left after last year to return to his roots at NHTI. But the transition with Henderson has been seamless, and having about a dozen seniors doesn’t hurt, either.

“It’s been really good,” said Cougar senior Ryan Latsha, whose long-distance sideline throw-in gave him three assists yesterday. “Brian’s been a really good coach for us, taught us a lot of new stuff, with the new defensive layout. He’s been really good for us, and we look forward to keep going in the playoffs.”

Cougar Brody Milles headed in the first Latsha toss, almost like a corner kick, just five minutes in. Latsha also set up Wyatt Hemming for the fourth and final goal of the first half (4-0) and then Mills again later in the second half.

“I developed it my eighth grade year,” Latsha said. “When you’re a baseball pitcher, you throw with one arm (showing an overhand motion). So I try to use mainly my right arm to throw, but I use my left hand on it at same time to guide it, it’s legal. Kind of like a basketball shot.”

“It’s a phenomenal throw,” Henderson said with a grin. “It’s really a great weapon. And honestly, it’s like you get a ton of corner kicks from a ton of different areas. You get different angles, different runs.

“We’ve been working on it a long time. It’s a weapon that not a lot of other teams get, so we try to use it.”

Eric Coates led the way with a hat trick, while Mills, Hemming and Conor Donaghey each had two goals. Single tallies were by David Cosco and Trevor Benoit.

The Cougars could do anything they wanted offensively, as Potter finished with 15 saves and Campbell goalie Jack Noury didn’t have to break a sweat, trying to stay dry and loose with three stops.

But things should be tougher on Friday. Campbell’s only losses were early in the season to the two teams above them, No. 1 Gilford and No. 2 Hopkinton, and in the middle of their unbeaten streak they tied No. 5 Trinity.

“That’s something in New Hampshire they’ve gone through all year,” Henderson said. “We’ve played some tough teams, then we get a part of the schedule that might be easier. We’ve got to find a way to keep playing quicker; keep the possession quicker, the passing quicker, doesn’t matter the opponent. We just have to make sure we’re on top of our game and keep that quick.”

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