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High School Tourneys: Local survivors are on to the semis

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Nov 4, 2024

Milford's Avery Wilson (9) and Ky-mani Velez Boggis celebrate the Spartans' 2-1 comeback win over Coe-Brown on Saturday in the Division II quarterfinals. (Courtesy photo)

It’s time to take attendance.

Who has survived the gauntlet of NHIAA tournament play in the area?

Nashua North girls soccer? Here!

Hollis Brookline girls soccer? Present!

Milford and Campbell boys soccer? Yo!

Milford girls volleyball? Hand raised.

Bishop Guertin girls volleyball? Yes!

There you go, there are six local tourney teams still alive in play: two girls soccer teams, two girls volleyball teams, and two boys soccer teams.

GIRLS SOCCER

The second full week of tourney play begins tonight when the No. 1, 17-0 Hollis Brookline girls soccer team takes on No. 4 Coe-Brown at 6:15 at Exeter’s Bill Ball Stadium in the Division II semifinals. The Cavs beat the Bears in last year’s finals 2-1 and then manhandled them in Hollis 6-0 nearly a month ago. HB, the defending champs, how won 36 straight. The finals are Friday at 5 p.m. in Exeter.

That takes us to Tuesday as the upstart No. 8 Nashua North girls soccer team facing No. 4 Winnacunnet at Manchester Memorial at 6:15 p.m. The Warriors beat North 2-0 just two weeks ago, but remember, North lost to Bishop Guertin 4-0 before beating them 2-1 (4-3 in PKs) on Friday in what might go down as the local Game of the Year in girls soccer.

“We had a nice close game (with Winnacunnet),” Titans coach Jacqueline Thompson said. “It’s just facing them again and taking back what we lost and turning it into a win. That’s what we’ve done so far.”

BOYS SOCCER

Still on Tuesday, both the Milford and Campbell boys soccer teams will be in action, both after comeback wins in Saturday’s quarterfinals. The top ranked Cougars (15-1-1) will face No. 5 Lebanon (10-4-4), whom they beat 3-2 in Litchfield back on Sept. 26. Game time at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter is 6:15 p.m.

Just before that one, also at Exeter, Milford (13-3-1) will have a rematch with No. 2 Oyster River (16-2). The Bobcats beat the Spartans back in their season opener 4-3. OR ruined what could have been an all-local semi when it beat Hollis Brookline 1-0 in the quarters. The finals are Friday night at 7:15 in Exeter.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Milford’s turn comes Wednesday in the Division II semifinals at Pinkerton Academy. The No. 3 Spartans (16-2) will take on No. 2 Coe-Brown at 5 p.m. What’s interesting here is the teams did not play during the regular season. Milford’s only losses were to Oyster River in September and rival Souhegan two weeks ago. In between the Spartans won eight straight, and have now won their last four. CB (17-1) has lost to just No. 1 Somersworth, which faces No. 4 Oyster River in the other semi.

Finally, on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., the No. 4 Bishop Guertin Cardinals (16-4) will be the next area team to try to challenge four-time defending champion Bedford (19-0), also at Pinkerton.

All have failed, the latest being Merrimack in a 3-0 quarterfinal loss this past weekend. BG lost 3-0 to the Bulldogs back on Oct. 8.

But after two tourney wins, they feel good.

“My girls are excited for the task,” Guertin coach Kyle Clement said. “It’s going to be a challenge. …I told them we shouldn’t fear anyone. We’ve got good players all around the court.”