Bishop Guertin's Shayne Amico (27) and her teammates celebrate a goal by Emiley Vinciguerra (1) during Wednesday's 9-2 tourney win overTimberlane at Rivier Univiersity's Merrill Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – This was the easy part.

Yes, the No. 8 Bishop Guertin High School girls field hockey team did what was expected, cruising for the most part Wednesday to a 9-2 Division I preliminary round win over No. 9 Timberlane.

Now comes the hard part – a trip to face No. 1 unbeaten Keene on Saturday in the quarterfinals.

The Cardinals are unlikely to have a 6-0 halftime lead the way they did yesterday, when, despite a couple of Owl pressures, they moved down the field at will over the first 30 minutes at Rivier University’s Merrill Field. It will be an adjustment.

“I know physically we can do it,” Guertin coach Dakota Bilodeau said. “It’s a mental, you know, grit, tough game. I think that’s half the battle, getting mentally prepared. I think that’s it. Obviously physically preparing, but at this point in the season we have to trust – we have the skill, we have the talent, and we know what we need to prepare for what (the Blackbirds) can bring. But just mentally being ready to want it more.”

The Cards certainly wanted it Wednesday, showing no overconfidence whatsoever in facing a now 6-11 team it beat 10-0 in the season opener as Sophie Bilodeau scored just 16 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead. Addison Daddona ended up with six goals and two assists to lead the way overall, but first Carly Green scored to make it 2-0 with 6:28 left in the opening period. Daddona scored the next three goals for the Cards and Emiley Vinciguerra scored with 4:19 left in the half for the 6-0 lead.

“That was great, makes you feel good as a coach,” Bilodeau said of the fast start. “We knew one wasn’t obviously going to be enough, they’re coached really well and knew they’d be a different team from the very first day of the season.”

And they were, as the Owls got two goals by Aria Labao against mainly BG’s reserves early in the fourth quarter to make it 7-2, but Bilodeau put the regulars back in and that ended that.

“I don’t like they scored two goals on defensive corners but no big deal,” Bilodeau said. “Most of the starters were out, but regardless, they all go to practice, all do the same things. No big deal, it didn’t hurt us too, too much, but know what we have to work on for Saturday.”

Besides Daddona, Green and Bilodeau, Emily Vinciguerra scored for BG, now 12-4-1. Daddona had two assists for an eight point day, while Vinciguerra (three) and Maddie Harrington also had assists.

But Daddona had a day.

“She’s been killing it,” Bilodeau said. “I think we have a really good rotation of kids who can play forward. Sometimes when one Leggo goes out one goes in and it shines a little brighter and they get a little more opportunities. So it’s great.”

Bishop Guertin’s Carly Green, right, battles Timberlane’s Giada Bourassa for the ball during Wednesday’s Division I tourney game at Rivier’s Merrill Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Bishop Guertin’s Carly Green, right, battles Timberlane’s Giada Bourassa for the ball during Wednesday’s Division I tourney game at Rivier’s Merrill Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Guertin needed everyone as Bilodeau, shortly after her goal, took a ball on the elbow and left the game, not to return. She’s fine, her older sister the coach said, but was held out to prevent her from getting hit in the same spot again.

The Cards could afford to do that. Ayla Saeturn had to face just five shots, making three saves while Timberlane’s Lilly Clark had five stops.

“It’s great, everybody was ready to step up,” Bilodeau said.

Now comes an even bigger step. Guertin gave the 15-0-1 top seed that lone blemish in a 1-1 tie at Keene.

“I think we played hard,” Bilodeau said. “I think we just need to be on our ‘A’ game and ready to go, play hard, play fast and with some depth.”

Just like they did on Wednesday.