Nashua South's Aidan Besada (847), Connor Theodore (871) and Cameron Patronick (863) form a cluster as the Panthers prevailed in the Nashua North Invitational Saturday at Mines Falls. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Huddle)

The Battle of the Bridge is underway and right now the color of choice is Purple.

Nashua South is off to a 3-1 lead thanks to the results in Saturday’s Nashua North Invitational Cross Country Meet. The varsity teams split as the South boys and North girls finished ahead of their rivals, while both South JV teams were ahead of North. The Panthers actually won the boys race overall.

Elsewhere, Merrimack is off to a 4-1 girls soccer start after beating North in a morning match at Stellos, and the Titans’ rivals at South continued their winning ways.

In boys soccer, Bishop Guertin did what it’s been doing — win, topping Concord in overtime. “It was a great response win,” Cards coach Tyler Vandeventer said.

Here’s your Saturday rundown:

BOYS & GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

SOUTH BOYS WINNER, BEDFORD WINS GIRLS RACE

The Panthers won the top spot with 92 points, ahead of Pinkerton’s 105 and Concord’s 113. Bishop Guertin took fourth in 118. Locally, Merrimack was ninth (218) while Hollis Brookline took 10th (250) and Nashua North in 11th (262) and Alvirne 12th (287).

BG’s Matt Giardina was the overall winner in the field of 108 runners in 16:15.1, while Merrimack’s Cam Fredette was third and Ryan Burgher fourth in 16:43.0 and Nashua South’s Daniel Byrne fifth in 16:44.3.

South’s other four point scorers: Andrew Byrne (13, 17:06.8), Aidan Besada (23, 17:54.8), Cam Patronick (25, 18:01.4) and Connor Theodore (26, 18:02.3). Plus Ben Girouard (18:05.9). That’s how you win in cross country.

Carson Fischer was 14th for BG (17:13.1). North’s top finishers were D’Sean Coffie (22, 17:54.7) and Andrew LaFlamme (31, 18:14.0). BG was buoyed by Sam Prescott in 32nd place and Emerson Warren right behind him, 33rd.

In the girls race, the Bulldogs totaled 38, ahead of Pinkerton (59), Concord and Keene (86) with Bishop Guertin the top local team in fifth (147). North had 162 in sixth, while South was seventh at 197. Merrimack was ninth at 224 and Hollis Brookline 10th (247).

Fiona Lee of Bedford was the top finisher in 19:34.3. Bishop Guertin’s Anna Fondakowski was the top local finisher in 15th in 21:10.3. Nashua North as paced by Erin Sung (18, 21:20.1) and Annika Hayden (21, 21:42.5). Merrimack’s Melanie Bedard was 28th in 21:56.9 while Nashua South’s Rebecca Hiscock was 29th in 21:59.6.

Other locals in the top 50: Brynna Anderson of Alvirne (30), BG’s Katie Kraft (35), Grace Harris of Nashua South (35), North’s Christina Juris (37), Jennifer Herbert (45), South’s Katie Perry (49) and BG’s Olatz Garay (50).

HB’s Edith Butler was the Cavs’ top finisher in 55th.

For complete results, go to lancertiming.com or directathletics.com

GIRLS SOCCER

NASHUA SOUTH 2, HANOVER 1 (OT)

The Panthers are 5-2, surviving a stretch of three games in four days, thanks to Ell Benzekri’s overtime goal. Alex Kapopolous (assisted by Peyton Renzi) had the Panthers’ other goal while keeper Izzy Mederos had eight saves.

South is at Timberlane on Tuesday, and that should be an interesting matchup, as the 5-1 Owls handed Bishop Guertin a 2-1 loss this past Thursday.

MERRIMACK 2, NASHUA NORTH 1

Trailing 1-0, the Tomahawks tied the game on a goal by Cara Sullivan (Danielle Ganley assist), then Morgan Lazzaro got the game-winner, assisted by Alex Therrian. The whole play was created by high pressure by Ganley and Katie Flyn.

Emily Theriault had 10 saves for the winners, who are at unbeaten Portsmouth on Tuesday. North is now 1-5, and has Goffstown on the road on Wednesday then rival Nashua South at Stellos on Thursday.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 9, PLYMOUTH 0 (Friday)

Mckenna Maguire led the 5-1Cavs with three goals, while Rosalie DeSantis (two goals), Paie Magnuszewski, Molly Reardon and Marleigh Kreick (each goal, assist), and Addison Fyfe (goal) also contributed. Bailey Dunn made two saves for the shutout.

CAMPBELL 4, BELMONT 0 (Friday)

Katie Riendeau, Gabby Kim-Levesque, Mortan Wagner and Evelina West scored for the Cougars, while assists went to Heidi Smith, Wagner, Riendeau, Kate Soule and Hannah Pimentel. The Cougars (4-0) are at Derryfield on Tuesday.

BOYS SOCCER

BISHOP GUERTIN 2, CONCORD 1 (OT)

Rayaan Hameed scored both goals, including the overtime game-winner, as the Cardinals moved to 5-1 with their fourth straight win, after being down 1-0.

Midfielder Nick Young also played well for BG, which got four saves by Beau Boughter and hosts Manchester Memorial on Tuesday.

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