It’s as simple as one more win each.

But that’s what makes it complicated.

If you want a repeat of last year’s Nashua North-South boys semifinal classic, they are in the same bracket (2-3) and could play if they each win their quarterfinal games Sunday at Stellos Stadium. However, that semifinal would be at Exeter’s Bill Ball Stadium on Nov. 2, not in Nashua like it was a year ago.

That, along with Souhegan’s appearance in the Division II field hockey finals, highlight the beginning of the second week of high school tournament play for the

locals

Here’s what you should look for the rest of this weekend and into next week:

BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION I

Nashua South coach Tom Bellen has been maintaining there are about six or seven teams that have legitimate championship chances, and maybe a couple of others who some wouldn’t be surprised if they step forward.

Obviously we all remember the fantastic drama the Panthers provided a year ago, not only with the memorable North-South semifinal that was won in the last half minute of regulation, but the title win over Hanover that went some 11 rounds in penalty kicks. Amazing.

Can it happen again?

To begin with, North and South could play each other in the semis as they were both seeded 2-3 (South 13-3, North 12-4), but that would be this coming Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Exeter – not Stellos this year, as the girls tourney is there (flip-flop from a year ago).

“We’ve been talking about it all year,” Bellen said. “It would be an exciting game. But you’ve got to get there.”

There are two Manchester teams in the way:

South will have to take on No. 7 Manchester Memorial, whom it beat 2-0, Sunday at 3 p.m., after blowing by Spaulding in the prelims, 7-0.

North, which barely survived in a penalty kick win over Londonderry in the prelims, now faces No. 6 Manchester Central (12-4-1) after the Little Green eliminated Bishop Guertin. That game will be at

1 p.m. at Stellos.

“We knew the second round would be difficult no matter who we drew,” Bellen said. “We beat them (2-0) but that game could have gone either way, they’ve got a lot of firepower, too. They’re built kind of like us. It’s really going to be who takes care of the ball better and finishes their chances.

“Memorial is no joke. They’re fast, they’ve got guys up top that are fast. And they have midfielders and strikers who connect very well. That will be an exciting game to watch. People want to come watch one game, that would be a fun game to watch.”

The Titans will have to face the Little Green, who blanked them 2-0 in the regular season finale. It will be up to the Preston Thompson-Cam Rodrigues led Titans to reverse that.

“The guys pulled together (in the prelims), they wanted it,” North coach Jeremy Zelanes said. “We got the win, we’re going to move on.”

DIVISION II

The Cavaliers of Hollis Brookline are the top local seed at No. 5 (12-4-1), and they survived the prelims with a Jesse Gertz goal in the final minute of regulation over upset-minded Trinity in the prelims earlier this week.

Their reward? A nice fall foliage trip up Route 89 to face No. 4 Lebanon on Sunday in the quarters.

The semis are Thursday, Nov. 3, at 4 and 6:15 p.m., also at Exeter.

DIVISION III

It was a great regular season for the Cougars of Campbell (No. 2, 14-2), who had their first round game moved to Thursday due to weather, as they hosted No. 15 Hopkinton (5-9-2).

A Campbell win would have them host the quarterfinals on Sunday vs. either No. 7 Winnisquam (12-4) or No. 10 Hillsboro-Deering (10-5-1).

The semifinals and finals are at Manchester Memorial on Nov. 2 (4, 6:15 p.m.) and Sunday Nov. 6 (1 p.m.).

This Cougar team is following in a long line of Campbell soccer success; they had a mini-slump in early October, losing back-to-back games to Gilford and St. Thomas. But don’t be surprised if they’re in the finals once again.

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

Bishop Guertin was unable to repeat its 2021 dramatic title win, falling to Timberlane in Friday’s quarterfinal 2-1. It was the second 2-1 loss to the Owls this year.

And the loss, coupled with Merrimack’s 4-1 defeat at the hands of Bedford, left the area without a Division I team in the semis, which are set for Monday night at Stellos.

The Tomahawks still had a great season, finishing 12-5-1 for one of its best seasons in recent years.

The semis Monday at Stellos are 4 (Portsmouth vs. Bedford) and 6:15 p.m. (Exeter vs. Timberlane) with the finals set for next Friday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. also at Stellos.

DIVSION II

Hollis Brookline (No. 2, 15-2) is the only local girls soccer team left in any division. The Cavs rolled past Merrimack Valley in Friday’s quarterfinals

after a first round bye, while Milford fell 3-1 to Pembroke.

HB will now take on No. 3 Pelham in the semis Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Cavs beat the Pythons twice,3-2 and 4-1, during the season. But as they say, tough to beat a team three times.

The finals are on Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Stellos, and the Cavs have been eyeing No. 1 Bow (15-2) all season since losing to the Falcons in overtime in last year’s semis. Bow will face No. 4 Pembroke in the 6:15 p.m. semi Tuesday.

DIVISION III

Campbell (No. 8, 10-7) had a great, dramatic win over Trinity in penalty kicks earlier this past week in the prelims, and the Cougars reward was a trip Friday to Dover to take on top-ranked St. Thomas (15-0-1). Alas, the Cougars fell 2-0 to the Saints, and thus their season is done.

The area’s hopes rest on HB.

FIELD HOCKEY

Will the Souhegan Sabers (No. 2, 15-0-1) knock that title wall down? We’ll find out Sunday at 11 a.m.when they take on fellow unbeaten John Stark (15-0-1) in a highly anticipated Division II title game at Bedford High School.

The Sabers and Generals tied 1-1 back on Oct.4 in Amherst. They were both looking forward to a rematch even then, and they got there.

“Even when we played them in the summertime, they were skeleton teams, but they were still intense, great games all the time,” John Stark coach Dennis Pelletier said after the tie. “One was a 20 minute game and had a shootout at the end of it. It was that intense.

“It would be beautiful to see us two in the finals. … We definitely compete hard against each other. They (the Sabers) are loaded with some talented senior players.”

Souhegan, led by senior scorer Ella Barrett, is looking to take advantage of that experience. But they know based on that 1-1 tie what to expect.

Should be a great one. Souhegan was in back-to-back finals in 2019 (losing to Hanover) and 2020 (bowing to Kennett), and last won it all in 2007. Stark has never been in the finals.

VOLLEYBALL

The question into the NHIAA Division I volleyball tournament that begins tonight is simple:

Can anyone stop Bedford?

Second seed Hollis Brookline (16-2) may have the best chance, having faced the No. 1, 18-0 Bulldogs back in the season’s first week, a 3-1 Bedford win. And the Cavaliers are the only local team left in the Division I tourney.

Besides the Cavs, only Londonderry and Portsmouth got a set win over the ‘Dogs. No. 8 Bishop Guertin (13-6), which won its first tourney match in the last few years earlier this week, was headed to Bedford this past Thursday in the quarters, hoping to win more than just a set. Not easy, and the Cards ultimately fell 3-0.

If the Cavs see Bedford again it won’t be until the finals, set for bright and early 10 a.m.at Pinkerton Academy on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The Cavaliers enjoyed a first-round bye, and Thursday they rallied to beat Portsmouth, 3-2, after being down 2-1 in sets.were slated to face No. 7 Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Nashua North probably feels it belongs in the semis, but the Titans dropped a heartbreaing 3-2 quarterfinal to Exeter, 15-13 in the final set. They end what was otherwise a fantastic 14-6 season.

the third Division I local left as of Thursday was Nashua North.The Titans (No. 5, 14-5) got a home prelim 3-0 win over Windham and was set to face No. 4 Exeter on the road.

HB is it, and they’ll take on No. 3 Londonderry in the semis Tuesday at Pinkerton at 5 p.m.

DIVISION II

This tourney did’t start until Thursday and had only two locals, No. 4 Campbell (11-3) and No. 9 Milford (9-7).

Campbell took care of No. 13 Laconia, 3-0, while Milford topped Kingswood, 3-1. The Spartans’ reward is a visit to No. 1 Oyster River today at 4:30 p.m., while the Cougars will host No. 5 St. Thomas (13-4) at 3 p.m. today in the quarterfinals.

The Division II semis are 5 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Pinkerton Academy, with the finals at Pinkerton on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.