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Memories are still in the making

By Tom King - Sports Writer | Nov 6, 2021

Tom King

Where were you a week ago Friday night? That was Oct. 29, to be precise.

How about this past Monday night?

If you weren’t at the only local games taking place those nights, you missed out. You missed part of Nashua sports history.

Judging from the crowds at the events we’ll describe, not too many people missed out.

Let’s start with Monday night at Stellos Stadium, an epic night of soccer where at least 1,500 fans packed the stands to see an incredible 1-0 Nashua South win over Nashua North in the Division I semifinals.

It was the biggest soccer game in the city in at least three decades, dating back to the Nashua-Bishop Guertin rivalry of the 1980s and early 1990s. Fast forward to 2004 when Nashua split and the big rivalry became North-South, but it was never like this because the stakes were huge.

You knew it was big when, while the first semi between Hanover and Manchester Central was still going on, there was a line outside the Stellos entrance as fans just kept coming in. And they weren’t disappointed, seeing what turned into, after some first-half South domination, into a back-and-forth game that the Panthers won in the final 29 seconds. They were set to play Hanover in the Friday night finals at Stellos, and you had to wonder whether the crowd would be as big.

It was simply amazing. Think back to a year ago when North and South played in the first round of the tournament at Stellos, and only fans of one team – North – could attend,and basically just two to four family members per player. It was a damp, drizzly Monday afternoon, the stands were empty, and South advanced with yet again another 1-0 win.

There was a great view of empty silver benches.

Last Monday? “I pretty much saw just no bench,” South coach Tom Bellen said. “Just people. That’s what I’d like to see every game.”

North coach Josh Downing said he was “scared as bleep” when he saw the crowd and the game started. But he just felt the city responded to the interest surrounding the game.

Now go back to a week ago Friday. It would be tough to match the multi-event sports night that took place, four events within about 300 yards of each other.

At 3 p.m., you got the Nashua North-Portsmouth Division I boys soccer quarterfinal at Stellos. Now, the 12th-seeded Titans weren’t expecting to have a home quarter, even after upsetting No. 5 Concord in the first round. But they did thanks to the No. 13 Clippers stunner over No. 4 Manchester Memorial.

And the game went back and forth, tied 1-1 until North won inside of five minutes in regulation on an Arthur Santos goal.

Now let’s go down the street to Conway Arena, where Rivier University was introducing the public to its brand new women’s and men’s hockey programs. The women played at 4 p.m., they eventually lost to Castleton University 6-0, but hey, their first season ever was underway. The parking lot was full, a barbecue put on by the school was going on outside – a launch party, if you will.

Now, just down the road, at 6, the Nashua South boys were taking on Exeter in the Division I quarterfinals – the same bracket as the Titans.

A lot of the North players went home, ate, and came back to see if they would be playing their friends.

The game was crazy. South took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 and Exeter answered both times, sending things to double overtime. A freshman defender, Leonel Lopez, saved South’s season with a diving stop when goalie Leo Kopicko was on the turf. And another defender, Nick Esp, scored the game winner with seven – yes, seven – seconds left. Plenty of drama, and also a good crowd.

And then somehow Monday topped it.

Now, head back to Conway Arena, about the same time, the Rivier men skaters were playing their first game ever, against the well-established Penmen of Southern New Hampshire.

They were down 4-1, tied the game in the second period, and won it 5-4 on a goal by the Czech Republic’s Milan Breczko just over 12 minutes into the third period.

The crowd went nuts. It was the biggest yours truly has ever seen at Conway, which was built in the early 2000s. People lined up behind the goal just outside the lobby. Stands not quite filled, but certainly crowded. Parking lot filled, not only at the arena but also across the street in the second half of the Stellos lot nearest the rink.

Does it get any better? History on Friday, history on Monday.

So what were you doing those nights? Hopefully, you didn’t miss out.

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

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