Playoff Roundup: Five local semifinalists in soccer, volleyball

Two local boys soccer teams, two girls soccer teams and one volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of their respective tournaments over the weekend, and all will try to advance to the final on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

In boys soccer, Bedford reached the Division II semifinals, while Wilton-Lyndeborough advanced to the final four in Division IV. Hollis/Brookline moved on in Division I girls soccer, while the Souhegan girls did the same in Division II. And of the five local volleyball teams in the quarterfinals, only Alvirne in Division I reached the semifinals.

Boys Soccer

Bedford (15-2-1) advanced to the Division II semifinals for the first time after beating No. 5 Goffstown 2-1 in overtime on Saturday. The Bulldogs will take on No. 1 Merrimack Valley (17-1), which defeated No. 9 Pelham 3-2, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Stellos Stadium.

No. 3 Souhegan fell to No. 6 Lebanon 3-2 on penalty kicks in the Division II quarterfinals on Saturday. Lucas Aveling and Willis Griffith both scored goals for the Sabers (14-2-2), the second of which gave Souhegan a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute. But Lebanon tied it on a goal by Nick Burns in the 76th minute. Avery Hymel, Brady Boisvert and Jordan Koloski scored shootout goals for the Raiders, who will face No. 2 Hanover in the semifinals on Wednesday.

In Division IV, fourth-seeded Wilton-Lyndeborough (15-2-1) needed two overtimes to take care of No. 5 Moultonborough, winning 2-1 in the quarterfinals Friday. Dylan Shattuck scored the first goal for the Warriors 13 minutes into the game, the Panthers tied the game two minutes later and the game remained tied until the 119th minute, when Adam Edmunds scored the game-winner.

WLC will now face No. 1 Profile (16-1-1), which defeated No. 8 Woodsville 1-0, in the semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Hanover High School.

Girls Soccer

No. 2 Hollis/Brookline needed two overtimes to knock off No. 7 Pinkerton 2-1 in the Division I semifinals Saturday. Amanda Gerlitz scored a goal in regulation and assisted on the game-winner by Alicia Wilson. The Cavaliers (16-1-1) will take on No. 6 Londonderry, which defeated No. 3 Salem 2-1, in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter.

In Division II, No. 3 Souhegan returned to the semifinals with a 4-1 win over No. 6 St. Thomas in the quarterfinals on Friday. Peyton Kent scored two goals for the Sabers (15-3) while Madison Learned and Xan Clark each scored and Kelsea Bemis had two assists.

Souhegan will try to advance to a championship game for the first time since 2003 when the Sabers face No. 2 Lebanon (15-2-1), which knocked off No. 7 Bedford 1-0, on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

No. 7 Wilton-Lyndeborough saw its season come to an end in the quarterfinals for the second straight year, as the Warriors fell to No. 2 Gorham 2-1 in the Division IV playoffs Saturday. The Warriors (12-6) lone goal was scored by Sadie Zavgren, off an assist from Sam Broderick. Gorham will face No. 3 Derryfield in the semifinals.

Volleyball

No. 4 Alvirne advanced to the Division I semifinals by sweeping No. 5 Pinkerton, 26-24, 25-18, 25-23, Saturday. Kayla Duval and DJ Purcell each played well for the Broncos (16-4).

Alvirne will face No. 1 Londonderry in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Pinkerton. The Lancers knocked off No. 8 Nashua North, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12.

No. 7 Bishop Guertin saw its season come to an end in the quarterfinals, as the Cardinals fell to No. 2 Spaulding, 25-9, 19-25, 25-23, 25-17. Spaulding will face No. 3 Salem, which defeated No. 6 Hollis/Brookline 25-20, 26-24, 29-27.

In Division II, No. 4 Milford couldn’t hold on to a 2-0 lead against No. 5 St. Thomas, falling 25-27, 20-25, 25-17, 25-15, 16-14.