Nashua North goalie Nora Ross comes out to take a chance away from Bishop Guertin's Ava Suech (5) and Kelsey Ackerman (9) with help from Titan defender Kailee Deleo (7) during Monday night's clash of city rivals at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Seeing is definitely believing when it comes to watching Bishop Guertin High School girls soccer standout Martha Lord.

Some who attended Monday night’s BG-Nashua North girls soccer game at Stellos Stadium having heard of Lord’s talent now know what the fuss is all about. The Cardinal senior scored the game’s three goals in a 3-0 win, her talent on full display.

“She was the difference for sure,” Guertin coach Winston Haughton said, his team now 8-1 in Division I. “She was really on today, and that’s what we come to expect from her, to be fair. She’s like that most days.”

And, to be honest, Lord’s performance was no surprise to the Titans and coach Jacqueline Thompson, her 2-4-2 team’s two-game win streak snapped.

“She’s got a beautiful shot,” Thompson said. “I told the girls you can’t give her that space. The ball goes to her foot, it’s going in.”

Lord’s first blast from about 20 yards out came at 17:01 of the first half. But North hung in there defensively, sparked by first-half keeper Nora Ross sacrificing her body half the time, sliding out to make a couple of big stops. But soon after one of Ross’s four saves, Lord took a pass from Alexa Peseridis (two assists) and shot too quick for the Titan keeper to reach it, making it 2-0 at 29:08.

It might have been a somewhat different game if the Titans had been able to score before the end of the half, which ended 2-0. But North never got any sustained pressure, or that one goal it needed to take the heat off and put it on the team in green. Lilly Baker-Olliviera put a blast from right wing right after Lord’s first goal, but Cards keeper Jess LaCroix was there for the save. It was probably North’s best opportunity.

“We’ve got a double safety net there,” Haughton said. “Our defense is doing a good job and Jess is very capable as well.”

“I said the same thing (needing a goal) to the girls, if they could just get one in,” Thompson said. “But overall, it’s part of the process. I’m really proud where these girls have come every day when they step on the field there’s new improvement, new hustle, new building and connecting. I’m not disappointed in them … They showed they’re ready to compete and it’s promising for the rest of their season.”

Bishop Guertin’s Martha Lord tries to move against Nashua North’s Kaylee Moore (8) during Monday’s game at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Lord made it 3-0 at 61:02 with a shot from about 30 yards out that displayed her accuracy, placed where North second half keeper Rachel Gauthier couldn’t reach it. But Haughton feels there’s certainly more to the Cards than one player. Zoe Horton-Souza also had an assist on the night.

“It’s a good team around (Lord),” Haughton said. “She’s doing her bit and the rest of the team is doing their bit as well.”

North takes on Londonderry here looking to get back on track on Thursday while BG visits Salem. But another city rivalry game takes place Saturday when the Cards take on Nashua South at 11:30 a.m. Might be a good take as Haughton feels his team still has potential to reach.

“They can be good and they’re still learning as well,” Haughton said. “Some parts we’re getting really well, better than other years, and some parts we need to improve on.”

But getting Lord her touches, it seems, isn’t one of them.