Chase McBride and the rest of the Nashua North-Souhegan hockey team will be home for the holidays, playing in the round robin HBDS Backyard Brawl this Wednesday through Dec. 31 at Conway Arena. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

BOYS HOCKEY

BOW 3, NORTH-SOUHEGAN 1

Every so often we’re reminded of why a hockey game is three periods, because there’s always a chance for three different games within one. The Nashua High School North-Souhegan hockey team was only able to win one of those in its season opener ended up on the short end of a 5-4 season opener vs. Bow at Conway Arena last Wednesday.

It’s a shame, because after an awful start in spotting the Falcons a 4-0 first period lead, the Saber-Titans enjoyed a three-goal second period to tie things up after 30 minutes, 4-4.

But, alas, Bow’s Ethan Tobeler redirected a shot by Dom Jurcins at 5:57 of the third to give the Falcons the win. A helpless Saber-Titan goalie Colin Duckless could only look back and watch the puck, which partially deflected off his chest, go in the net. But for the locals, the glass will be half full.

“We lost 4-1 first period, and then gave up one goal,” Nashua North-Souhegan coach Bill Kotsifas said. “We played better defensively, started to understand our roles, we weren’t running around as much.”

The Saber-Titans looked more like the North-Souhegan teams of a few years ago than the last couple of seasons, as Bow got two goals from Owen Weber (one on the power play), one from Billy Smethhurst and another by Brodie O’Neil, all in the first 7:04.

But after Bow’s first goalie, Hollis Jones, turned aside Saber-Titan Finn Moran’s shorthanded breakaway chance, N-S got a goal by Chris Weeden, assisted by Chase McBride, with just 12 seconds left in the opening period, and it proved to be a spark.

Bow took five penalties in the second period, survived a 5-on-3 but they were on their heels most of the period, and North-Souhegan pounced. First came an unassisted goal by Jacob Landry at 4:28, as he kept poking at the puck and finally got it in. Ryan Leighton made it 4-3 on a power play, assisted by Ty Washam at 5:57, and N-S evened it up at 4 on Landry’s second goal at 8:53, taking a feed of a nice

Moran rush.

“My mantra for them is the final score is the only thing that matters,” Kotsifas said. “I told them losing 4-1, if we win 5-4, who cares?”

Walsh changed goalies after that, bringing in Mason Marquis, who made 10 stops the rest of the way. After a tough start, Duckless played well with 24 saves.

HANOVER 3,

NORTH-SOUHEGAN 1

The Nashua North-Souhegan skaters fell at Hanover, 3-1, with Chris Weeden getting the lone Saber-Titans goal, asssisted by Chase McBride and Will Dodge.

Goalie Colin Duckless had another good day in goal with 31 saves. It was tight until Hanover (1-0) got an empty net goal late.

GIRLs BASKETBALL

JOHN STARK 43, SOUHEGAN 37

The Sabers move to 2-2 after a Friday night home loss. Caitlin Cooper led with 15 points, Kate Canavan had 14 and Sierra Biddle added six.

PEMBROKE 67, MILFORD 43

Pembroke outscored the locals 19-9 in the second period to take a 31-20 halftime lead and never looked back. Milford (2-2) was paced by freshman Avery Fuller, who had 19 points, while junior Bailey Johnson added nine.

BOYS BASKETBALL

PEMBROKE 55, MILFORD 43

The Spartans fell to 2-2 after watching Pembroke’s Mike Pittman hit for 30 points, as the visitors rolled out to a 36-17 halftime lead. Caden Zalenski led Milford with 12 points while Ryon Constable added n

SOUHEGAN 72, SANBORN 40

Watch out for the Sabers, who got 24 points from Matt Canavan and 10 from Pete Headington while John McBride owned the boards with 10 rebounds.

BOWLING

SOUHEGAN THIRD

The Sabers nearly got a perfect 300 game from Wil Jacques – he rolled a 288 – while losing to Dover 2-1 and then topping Coe-Brown 2-0, taking third in qualifying and third after the Baker round.

Jacques added a 204 to his 288 to break both the Souhegan individual game record and series with a 492 total.

The Dover game scores were 125-154, 165-154, 175-167, and then Coe-Brown went 137-128 and 159-105. Jacob Sainsbury (137, 150) and Kaleb Morgan (117, 142) also bowled well for the Sabers.

Indoor track

HAMPSHIRE DOME MINI MEET

Nashua North, South, Bishop Guertin, Souhegan, Merrimack and Keene competed at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, with a limited number of events.

In the boys meet, Nashua South dominated. Panther Michael Curtin took the 55 meters in 6.80 seconds, just ahead of Souhegan’s Tony Garrant (7.01).

Souhegan’s Wil Jacques and Jackson Steckbeck were one-two in the high jump at 5-8 and 5-6.

In the girls meet, Bishop Guertin got a win from Fiona Doherty in the 600 (1:44.18), just ahead of Souhegan’s Emma Herrero (1:51.84).

The Cards also won the 4Ö300 relay, ahead of the second-place Souhegan girls Hannah Griffin, Stephanie Svendsen, Mackenzie Cretsinger and Emma Kennedy.