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Who really won this semifinal? Nashua’s soccer community

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Nov 2, 2021

Nashua High School boys soccer standout striker Caua De Freitas looked acrosse the way at the packed Stellos Stadium stands Monday night and was both stunned and happy at the same time.

“Astonishing,” he said. “I love that.It’s a beautiful game, I like to see the fans packed. It was good. It was electric. Love the fans. Love it.”

His coach, Josh Downing, looked up at the packed house, thought of the intensity on the field, and when asked what it was like, said, “Scary as bleep.”

Hey, honesty is the best policy.

“The games are enough,” he said. “But this was amazing. The city came out and supported soccer, and I’m proud of the city for supporting us. At the end of the day, half our home games we have minimal people watching. To look at the stands and have them full – full stands, full fence, is amazing.”

“Love it,” Bellen said. “I love the fact we had a packed house tonight. We’ve been asking for it all year, and it’s been growing and growing. … I saw pretty much just no bench, just people.”

And those people saw an incredible 1-0 Division I semifinal won by the Panthers on the scoreboard but by both teams on the field. It was certainly the biggest soccer game the city of Nashua has seen in decades. It was a perfect storm, if you will – this year the boys state semis and finals for Division I and II were scheduled for Stellos Stadium.

But North vs. South? Who could have predicted that?

South was the golden team. Ranked nationally during the season. All sorts of talent. North entered the tournament as the 12th seed, but both its coach, Josh Downing, and Panthers coach Tom Bellen knew better. They knew there was a ton of talent in Titans uniforms as well. They knocked off Concord 1-0 in the prelims, survived Portsmouth last Friday on a late goal in the quarters – the Clippers were No. 13 but upset Memorial – so here they were.

After that win, they players were praying South would beat Exeter later at Stellos that night, and the Panthers did – with seven seconds left in double OT.

So here we were. No, here were a ton of soccer fans, lined up at the Stellos front gate. Monday Night Football? No, Monday Night Futbol.

It was an incredible celebration of soccer, and the city’s soccer community was the beneficiary. Fans and players alike.

“This is really big for the city as a whole,” International Soccer Club of Nashua president Jared Barbosa said. “This is the most people that they’ve played in front of in their entire life. This is immense for them, this is great.”

Barbosa, who called the game with yours truly on Nashua ETV, worked hard on social media, etc., to try to get the word out after Friday’s superb quarterfinal doubleheader at Stellos.

The word got out.

“I’m happy for Nashua in general,” Bellen said. “I’m glad we get to go through. … I look at this is Nashua. I’m happy for the success North has. If we play (each other) in in the semis and finals every year, than great for us. That’s the plan.”

That mutual respect was shown when players would make a play, a hand from one uniform would be extended to a hand in the other. When do you see that?

De Freitas felt the same way. He said he was glad a Nashua team would be in the finals; he just wishes it were his, obviously. But the respect and friendship these two teams have for each other is not what you ordinarily see.

The Titan senior was asked if he had a message for younger kids who may have seen this game. There were plenty of them at Stellos last night.

“Work hard if you want to get to this level,” De Freitas said. “Just want you to know that our team gave everything we had. Tears, sweat, everything.”

Truly a night to remember.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.

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