Nashua North players celebrate the Titans' 2-1 win over Bedford Saturday at Stellos Stadium. It was the Bulldogs' first loss of the season.(Photo by Dan Attorri)

NASHUA — The foundation of the Nashua North girls’ soccer program has been building for a few seasons, and it’s built on trust. Against the undefeated Bedford Bulldogs, the Titans put that trust on display.

North’s best players, Alli and Sarah Frye, scored goals, junior goalkeeper Kathleen Schreiner made 13 saves, and the rest of the Titans chipped in to defeat Bedford, 2-1, on Saturday morning at Stellos Stadium, handing the Bulldogs their first loss of the season.

The victory extends North’s winning streak to nine games and moves the Titans (10-1-0) into second place in Division I. It also hands Bedford (9-1-2) its first regular season loss since Oct. 8, 2024, which also came at the boots of Nashua North.

“For a long time now Bedford has been almost like a rival for us,” Nashua North head coach Jacqueline Thompson said. “They’ve always brought their energy and last year when we beat them it was very special. It was something in program history we had never done, so I just reminded them of that feeling. … I think they showed their true character and everything we’ve been talking about since the beginning of the season.”

North’s Maja Ray-Hokanson (1) goes after a loose ball during the second half of Saturday’s Division I game at Stellos Stadium vs. Bedford. (Photo by Dan Attorri)

Alli Frye scored in the 16th minute for a 1-0 lead, taking a short pass from her sister Sarah and firing a shot from 20 yards out past Bedford keeper Danielle Winning (seven saves). She also hit the crossbar three minutes later, but the Bulldogs refused to play on their back foot and started to generate their own opportunities.

Adra Casey had a breakaway and drew Schreiner out of the net, but her shot was just wide of the far post. Bedford had an even closer attempt on a similar play before halftime when Elizabeth Foxx sent a through ball past the Titan defense that Bulldog Claudia Erwin received, only for her shot to go off the post.

North opened up the second half with several trips into the attacking third. One shot was cleared off the goal line by a Bedford defender in the 41st minute and the Titans made it 2-0 in the 54th when Sarah Frye’s free kick from 30 yards out dipped under the crossbar out of Winning’s reach.

While the Fryes stand out as two of the best players in the division, it’s the depth, balance and cohesiveness of this year’s squad that’s made North stand out this season.

“They demonstrated that they can work together as a unit. That’s what I think makes this team very strong,” Thompson said. “They’re a family. They’re tight knit. They’re willing to work together. Alli and Sarah are the best in the division, but they look to their teammates. They know they can trust their teammates and their teammates trust them. It’s not a two-man show. I think this young group definitely demonstrates that on and off the field.”

The Bulldogs outshot the Titans 19-15 and also got more attempts on goal, but they never sustained pressure deep in North’s third for very long.

Sophomore Maja Ray-Hokanson did a great job in the central midfield winning 50/50 balls and disrupting Bedford attempts to move forward, while the young backline comprised of freshmen Katrina Neveu and Abby Azevedo, and sophomores Rosie Clark and Nat Bryant played well.

And when strikes did manage to reach Schreiner, nothing fazed her. Even when a Bedford shot clanged off the post in the 30th minute and the crossbar in the 55th, Schreiner didn’t get frazzled.

The only shot that found its way past her was when a handball was called in the 63rd minute and Anna Diaz converted the penalty kick.

“Kathleen has been a huge asset to us,” Thompson said. “We lost two tremendous goalies last year. … Last year we could rotate between them. Going into this season, it’s tough to put on one goalkeeper’s shoulders, that they’re the only one. Through injury, through everything, she’s always stepped up with calmness and confidence. She doesn’t get shaken up.

“The PK didn’t faze her. She trusts her family, she trusts her backline. She’s really stepped up. She had big shoes to fill, but she’s done with a lot of grace and composure.”

Alli Fry (5) dribbles up the field while Bedford’s Elyse Olsen (7) defends in the closing minutes of Saturday’s game. (Photo by Dan Attorri)

Schreiner made one more big save with five minutes left in the match when Erwin aimed a strike from point-blank-range between her legs, but got control of the ball before it could squirt free over the line.

With two weeks left in the regular season, Exeter (11-1-0) is in first place in D-I with Pinkerton (9-0-2) and the Titans (10-1-0) in a tie for second, and Bishop Guertin (10-1-1), Portsmouth (10-1-2) and Bedford (9-1-2) right behind.

North plays at winless Manchester Memorial on Tuesday, but follows that up with a match against BG at Stellos Stadium on Thursday and a road game against top-ranked Exeter next Saturday.

“North has never been noticed,” Thompson said. “I told the girls ‘You’ve been building the foundation for this and now you’re setting the expectation. You built it. Now, you maintain it.'”