Hollis Brookline's John Constantine, left, and Milford's Vincent Arsenov are on a collision course for the ball during Saturday's Division II clash in Hollis. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The ties have it this fall in high school boys and girls soccer, thanks to the coaches opting to get rid of overtime in a survey sent out last spring.

But for the Milford and Hollis Brookline boys soccer team, Saturday morning’s 0-0 draw was the first for both.

“Both teams had chances, they’re a good team,” Milford coach Anson Thibault said, his 8-1-1 team hitting the crossbar and the right post in the final 10 minutes as players like Avery Wilson and Tiegan Barb pushed forward. “Ties are frustrating because everybody wants to walk away with a result. But I’m on board with not having our kids play an extra 20 minutes a few times a year.”

But a sign of how far Milford has come after a couple of years of rebuilding with youth is that now opponents look at them as somewhat of a litmus test.

“It was,” HB assistant coach Gerald Finnegan said, running the show while head coach Pedro Zampilli serves a suspension for getting a recent red card. “Milford’s always been our kind of cross-town rival, sharing a boarder with them. And a lot of these kids played together on the Nashua-based (youth) teams.”

HB in the last 25 minutes owned time of possession but never got any solid shots or scoring chances. However, it did say something for midfielders Colin Magnuszewski Ronan Finnegan and John Constantine to keep the ball a bit.

“That’s something Milford does a nice job of, collapsing on the box,” Finnegan, his team now 6-3-1, said. “Players would be opening up to take the shot and they’d have to pull back that trigger.”

“Our defense played well today,” Thibault said, citing his group led by Joonas Magnum. “They kept people in front of them, and didn’t let guys get behind, and that’s what you want.”

Experience is the key for Milford this year. “They’ve had a lot of varsity experience over the years and it’s paying off this year,” Thibault said. “They’re a lot of close games this year. We’ve had five 2-1 games this year (all wins), so it’s tight.”

Keepers Jackson Scherer (HB) and Bryce Larco (Milford) each enjoyed a clean sheet.

Saturday had lots more local action so here you go:

GIRLS SOCCER

GOFFSTOWN 3, NASHUA NORTH 1

The Titans fell to 5-4-1, managing only an Allison Frye goal. North, which has lost its last three, look to get back on track Tuesday at Bedford.

EXETER 8, ALVIRNE 0

It was a tough day for the 0-10-1 Broncos, but keeper Ashtyn Willard certainly did her best to try to hold the fort with 26 saves. Alvirne hosts Manchester Central-West on Thursday.

CAMPBELL 6, SANBORN 2

The unbeaten (10-0-1) Cougars continued their superb play this season by spreading the wealth with six different scorers: Abby Gurette, Ashlynn Guay, Maddie Cuvellier, Lilli Wilson, Mia LaPlante and Kaylie Geiger.

Campbell is at White Mountains on Monday.

FIELD HOCKEY

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 1, MERRIMACK VALLEY 0 (0T)

Brooke Bouchard scored the overtime game-winner as the Cavs improved to 11-1 with their fifth straight triumph. Maddie Barich needed to make only one save for the shutout.

HB hosts Pelham on Wednesday.

BISHOP GUERTIN 6, MANCHESTER CENTRAL-WEST 0

The Cardinals continue to roll, improving to 10-1-1 – unbeaten in their last 10 straight.

They host 9-2-1 Dover at Rivier University on Tuesday.

BOYS & GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

NASHUA SOUTH BOYS SECOND IN BATTLE OF THE BORDERS

The Panthers finished second at 133, well behind Pinkerton (50) in the big event hosted by Alvirne.

The Bishop Guertin and Alvirne girls were the top local teams, eighth and ninth respectively.

BG was seventh and Alvirne ninth, Milford 10th in the boys race. Leading the Panthers were Daniel Byrne (11, 16:04.6), Camdon Brien (17, 16:18.8), Andrew Byrne (34, 16:53.8), Ryan DuVarney (38, 17:01.6) and Matthew Motherway (46, 17:21.1).

Top finishers for BG were Carson Fischer (8, 16:00.1), Ethan Fischer (9, 16:00.4), and Samuel Prescott (16:17.3).

Milford’s Logan Korthals was the top local finisher in fifth in 15:46.2. Alvirne was paced by Brent Dunning (22, 16:28.4).

In the girls race, BG’s Anna Fondakowsi was third in 18:16.4 as the top local. The next best Cardinal was Lyla Masson (26, 20:32.5). Alvirne was led by Anna Simpson (eighth, 19:21.8) and Olivia Cargagena (31, 20:45.5). Hollis Brookline’s Mae Buttler was 32nd (20:46.1), Alvirne’s Ava Martin 33rd (20:46.2) and BG’s Anna Sinclair 34th (20:48.6) in a string of consecutive locals.

For complete results go to directathletics.com.