North goalkeeper Tyler Byrne lunges but just can't quite get to a shot by Bedford's Ali Mirza during Thursday's Division I clash at North's field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Nashua High School North boys soccer coach Jeremy Zelanes had a simple theory to tell his team late Thursday afternoon.

And he had plenty of evidence to back it up.

Zelanes told his players that the road to the Division I state title goes through Bedford, and the Titans certainly could understand that after bowing to the Bulldogs 3-0 at North Field.

The Bulldogs lived up to their nickname, as they pushed the ball in deep over and over and over, and down the middle as well, not just on the wings.

“They were using their outside backs to attack, and a lot of times they had just two defenders back,” Zelanes said, his team now 4-5-3 and pushing to make sure they qualify for the post season. “They were very focused on scoring goals, it was obvious. An extremely skilled team.”

One that is 11-0-1 and has scored 33 goals in its last six games, including a 9-2 pasting of Keene earlier this week. They’re certainly a better offensive team than last year’s Division I state champion that edged the Titans just 1-0 in the semis. It’s almost hard to believe that Londonderry – a good team in its own right — three weeks ago played Bedford to a scoreless tie.

“I just feel we can attack from so many different positions,” Bedford coach Stuart Pepper said. “We’ve got some weapons out wide, two strikers who can combine well, three midfielders who are good engines that can join in and create problems in the penalty box. I feel that potentially we’re a better team than last year going forward.”

Hard to argue. Tavis Wallace and Jacob Bilecki scored in the first 10 minutes to hurt that game plan because then the Titans would need offense.

It stayed 2-0 through the rest of the first half and then Bedford’s Ali Mirza boomed a rocket that besigied North keeper Tyler Byrne had no chance on midway through the second half for a 3-0 Bulldog lead. That pretty much did it.

The Titans didn’t give up a lot of shots, but the ‘Dogs were on top of Byrne all day, living in and just beyond the penalty box.

“We believe if we want to win a state championship we have to get through them,” Zelanes said. “We’ve got to make some corrections and work on some things. There are a lot of things we do well consistently, but it just wasn’t happening for us today.”

“I though North battled well today,” Pepper said. “They defended well, their two center backs, Brady (Martin) and Jordan (Ollivierra), a great combination. … They were one of the better teams we played this season.”

But the Titans couldn’t mount an attack to take the pressure off Byrne. They had just three shots in the second half, two by Aidan Valcourt, one that was saved and the other soared over the goal. The other by Tyson DiGiorgio was stopped. Bedford keepers Derek Wilensky and Caleb Yeater combined for the shutout.

Nashua North’s Aidan Valcourt, left, battles Bedford’s Ryland Hooven for the ball during Thursday’s Division I clash at North’s field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Nashua North’s Aidan Valcourt, left, battles Bedford’s Ryland Hooven for the ball during Thursday’s Division I clash at North’s field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Zelanes, after seeing how Bedford was on a torrid pace, admitted he wanted to go in with a defensive-minded game, hoping not only his defenders but the grass field at North would slow the ‘Dogs down. And then possibly escape with a tie (no overtime any longer).

“Of course we wanted the win,” Zelanes said, “but knowing we were up against a good team, we were going to be happy if we could get out of here with a tie.”

That’s because a tie gives a team points, and North is sitting in the 14th and final tourney spot as of last night with four games left.

“It’s late in the season, we’ve done a lot of things well the last few games,” Zelanes said. “We just need to make a few corrections.”

And perhaps avoid the Bulldogs down the road for as long as they can.