Nashua North's Sevastian Arango, right, hopes to be celebrating many Titan goals this season like this one vs. BG a year ago. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

We can guarantee you this for the 2024 local high school boys soccer season;

There won’t be an area team repeating a title in its 2023 division.

That’s because the only local winner last year, Campbell in Division III, has moved up to Division II with a new coach, Dan Dufourny, as championship coach Brian Henderson left to take an athletic director’s job in Massachusetts. But keep an eye on the Cougars in their new soccer home.

Alvirne also has a new coach, Christien DuBois, who has extensive club soccer coaching experience.

Locally the top two Division I teams remain Nashua North and South. The Panthers plans for a threepeat were derailed by new champion Bedford, vs. whom they were scheduled to open against late this week. Nashua North recovered from some regular season hiccups to make the Division I semis, but Bedford was in the Titans’ way with a 1-0 win.

Still, there’s plenty of talent returning for all the locals, so here’s a look as the season is slated to open for most teams Thursday and Friday:

DIVISION I

The Titans feel they have the mental makeup as well as the talent to win this year.

“Our (semis) match vs. Bedford highlighted a crucial lesson,” North coach Jeremy Zelanes said. “We laced the discipline and the will to win when it mattered most. This year the focus is shrper, and the preparation is more intense.”

North lost some key seniors but will start with a defnese anchored by Brady Martin and Jordan Ollivierra, plus keeper Tyler Byrne and defenders Patrick Zelanes ad senior newcomer Sam Milani.

Offensively, North has Junior Reyas, Aiden Valcourt, Sevastian Arango, Jose Brambila and David Pereira all expected to be strong contributors.

Nashua South now has to get used to life without a generational player in the graduated Santi Sommorrostro, not to mention some of his classmates.

“A pretty big rebuilding year after losing several key seniors,” Panthers coach Tom Bellen said. “Our defense should be solid.”

Back there the Panthers, who gave up the least amount of goals last year in Division I, lost just one starter. Three keys on the back line are seniors Leo Lopez and Revin Olsen, plus junior Nirav Chenji. Senior forward Marcell Perry should be strong on the front end, and keep an eye on freshman Nirav Cheni.

“We still have our eye on playoffsand making that four-game run,” Bellen said.

Bishop Guertin took a step back last year but that may help the Cards take a step forward with 14 players who saw significant time back from that non-tourney team.

“We’re looking to get back to being a playoff team,” Cards third-year coach Tyler Vandeventer said. “Keys to this will be capitalizing on the experience gained last year by the majority of the team.”

Key players begin with third year junior starter Beau Boughter in goal, plus senior defender Carson Leo, plus junior defender Liam Ireland, senior midfielder Zayn Hameed and junior forward Andrew Klyop.

Merrimack had a second-half swoon that kept them out of the tourney last year but more experience this year.

Leading the way are tri-captains senior Dave Sharma, junior Kaiden Marten and junior Daniel Kovryzhenko. Add to them senior forward Adrian Talbot, junior defender Nate Johnson and fellow defender Brady Towne and you have the nucleus.

“This is a more experienced team, some of whom started as freshmen three years ago,” Tomahawks assistant coach Ray Juneau said. “We’ll combine speed, technical ability and defensive play to create a cohesive unit.”

Alvirne returned to the tourney last year, but got a tough draw with Nashua South and that was that. The Broncos now will have their third coach in the last three years, Dubois, who says he is “extremely excited to overhaul the program” as well as “create a competitive and fun system of play.”

The Broncos will be young – they graduated14 seniors – as three sophomores will see lots of time – Anthony Branco, Danny Burke and Victor Pegas, as well as freshman Liam Walsh.

“We have a great group of young players on the varsity this year,” DuBois said.

Campbell’s Luke Delia, who scored the game winning goal, holds the Division III championship title plaque after the recent title bout with Gilford in Laconia. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Campbell’s Luke Delia holds the championship plaque in Division III the Cougars won with his late game-winning goal. The 40-goal scorer returns but the Cougars are moving up to Division II. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

DIVISION II

The Cougars have made an interesting move, likely to the applause of Division III programs. But they have firepower coming back in the form of senior striker Luke Delia, who scored the title game winner last November, one of his 40 goals on the year. Other keys are senior midfielders Jack Larose and Logan Barka, although Barka may also see time at defense in front of senior returning goalkeeper Jack Bourque. Sophomore midfielder Brady Marcotte is also a key.

“We graduated a large group of seniors last year but kept a strong core of returners,” Dufourny said, “and that includes Delia, who had a 40-goal season.”

Hollis Brookline, which sees Campbell on Tuesday, lost in the quarterfinals last year, and a solid midfield group should be bolstered by scorers up front. Two of those forwards are juniors Alexander Sawadowsky and Noah Natalino.

Keys in the midfield are seniors Ronan Finnegan and Colin Magnuszewski plus junior John Constantine. The defense will be fortified by center back JohnPaul Torgersen.

“Our midfield has been the pillar of this team for the past couple of years,” third-year head coach Pedro Zampilli Ambrosio said. “Nowthey have a refreshed and hungrier offensive line to help them maximize the team’s scoring capabilities.”

Watch out for Milford, as past youth should turn into current experience/success with 16 of 17 back.

“With all but one of our key players returning, here is excitement for the trajectory this team could each,” Spartans coach Anson Thibault said.

Key players back include senior three-year starter Avery Wilson, senior two-year starter Joonas Mangum, fellow seniors Vincen Arsenov, Kenyon Sora and Jake Neubeck plus sophomore Matt Pettingell.

Souhegan is hungry, in second year coach Elvis Zukovic’s words, “to get back to being a playoff team”. The Sabers lost 11 seniors but still have talent coming back, led by senior forward Calvin Jacques, plus juniors Finnegan Daly (keeper), Weston Hickman (forward) and Evan Bernasconi (midfielder).

“We’re a very young but talented team,” Zukovic said. “Incoming freshmen and improved sophomores are providing a promising future.”

DIVISION IV (no Division III locals)

Wilton-Lyndeborough will always be in the Division IV mix, especially with senior goalie Ben Jacob, who has possibly the second most saves all time in New Hampshire. “He is unbelievable,” Warriors coach Dan Nelson said.

The team’s other All-Stater is forward Harry Krug.

“I have a good feeling about this season,” Nelson said. “Let’s just say lots of potential and I believe we will be very competitive.”