Nashua North's Brielle Baxter heads the ball off a corner kick in between Merriack defenders Avery Rigoli, left, and Abby Koss during Tuesday's Division I game in Merrimack. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

MERRIMACK – They were Fryed.

It’s happening to other teams this fall besides the Merrimack High School girls soccer team. The Nashua North duo of twins Allison and Sarah Frye are a key reason for the Titans’ 3-1 start that included Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Student Memorial Field.

Allie Frye scored one goal and assisted on another, while sister Sarah helped control the midfield as the Titans dominated time of possession. All Merrimack coach Amber Murphy, who started three freshmen, could do was admire from the sidelines.

“The two twins played an excellent game, their fitness was there, they definitely had speed and they really took advantage and ahold of our midfield,” Murphy said. “The sustained pressure was lost, and there were multiple times we failed to find open teammates.

Allie Frye has been on a scoring tear lately, but to start the game she set up teammate Brielle Baxter just 1:20 in. Merrimack sophomore keeper Reece Berthiaume moved out to cover Frye who smartly got the ball to Baxter for a tap-in. About 24 minutes later, Allie Frye broke in as a ball off a goal kick was steered her way and she scored the only other goal for the game.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Sarah Frye said. “We’ve really come together as a team, and I think that showed in the way we played today, how we’ve been playing the last couple of games.”

“It’s been really good having my twin on the team because we have that twin telepathy,” Allie Frye said. “I know we have some things we need to work on, shooting and finishing especially. I know we had a lot of shots, but we only had two (goals).”

They might have had more but Berthiaume (eight saves) robbed Allie Frye point blank in the first half; in the second one ball hit the crossbar and Merrimack defender Schylar Locasto cleared another away from an empty net after Berthiaume made a save from a few feet out.

North just owned the ball throughout the game.

“That’s really been the focus and control of the game for us and the team is maintaining possession and having that composure,” Titans coach Jacqueline Thompson said. “We would have liked to have put a little bit more in the back of the net, but we’re creating opportunities with our patience and the possession.”

Merrimack goalie Reece Berthiuame hits the ground after making the save on Nashua North’s Allie Frye, left, while Merrimack defender Skylar Locasto (5) runs down the ball during Tuesday’s Division I clash in Merrimack. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Merrimack goalie Reece Berthiuame hits the ground after making the save on Nashua North’s Allie Frye, left, while Merrimack defender Skylar Locasto (5) runs down the ball during Tuesday’s Division I clash in Merrimack. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

But no complaints, because this is the best start the Titans have had in the last few years.

“We always have an uphill battle when we start our season,” Thompson said. “When we played Hanover (in the opener, a late 2-1 loss), the girls maintained possession, controlled the game, so that really set the tone for us. And we’re going to continue to build from that.

“This is just the beginning. Usually we are set back and have to reset. This year we set the tone and we’re just going to keep climbing.”

Don’t discount what North did defensively, as Merrimack managed one shot that Titan keeper Rachel Gauthier had to go up and get. The Katie Azevedo defense did its job.

“They have really worked hard at being organized and communicating with one another,” Thompson said. “They understand what they need to do.”

Murphy could only be realistic afterward about the difference.

“We don’t have one of the Fryes,” she said with a chuckle.

Something makes you feel the ‘Hawks won’t be the only ones saying that in the next few weeks.