(Ed. Note: For the full Portland-Scarborough boys’ soccer and Waynflete-York girls’ soccer stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

Every local varsity team is now underway and the fall sports season has produced plenty of excitement in the early going. Here’s a glimpse.

Football

Deering’s football team built on its Opening Night win at Portland with a 41-6 romp at Gorham Friday night. Deering took its time to get rolling, leading just 7-0 after one period (on a long touchdown run by junior Nick DiBiase) and 14-6 at the half, thanks to senior quarterback Jamie Ross’ scoring pass to junior Renaldo Lowry. By the end of three, it was 28-6, after TD runs from Lowry and Ross, and after another long scoring pass from Ross to Lowry and a rush from sophomore Dominic Lauture, the Rams wrapped up their easy win.

Deering (2-0) now faces a huge test when it hosts 2-0 Bonny Eagle Thursday night. A year ago, the Rams lost at the Scots, 41-21. That was the first of a season-ending six game losing streak.

Boys’ soccer

Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team got a later start than everyone else, due to the school’s Outdoor Experience program, but the Flyers, a team expected to contend for the Class C title, more than made up for lost time Saturday when they dispatched visiting Poland, 7-0. Waynflete led 6-0 at the half and cruised to the win.

Senior Omar Abdille scored three times and added an assist. Classmate Tucker Geoffroy had two goals. Junior Daniel Weiner and sophomore Paul Runyambo also scored. Sophomore goalkeeper Zander Majercik stopped two shots for his first career shutout.

The Flyers were home against Sacopee Tuesday and host rival North Yarmouth Academy Thursday.

In Western A, Deering’s in the win column. The Rams lost their first two outings, 1-0 at Sanford and 1-0 at home to Windham, but Saturday at Massabesic, Deering got the offense going. Senior Charlie Dupee made it 1-0 with a first half goal. After the Mustangs tied the score early in the second, junior Brandon Saucier, sophomore Brett Harmon and Dupee then struck to give Deering a 4-1 victory. Junior Jamie Gullbrand stopped three shots.

The Rams were at Westbrook Tuesday, host Portland Friday and welcome Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus, which won its opener, 3-2, at Gorham, fell at home to Marshwood last Tuesday, 3-1. Junior Elliot Maker had the Stags’ lone goal. Thursday, Cheverus improved to 2-1 with a 3-0 home win over Sanford. Maker scored twice in that one.

The Stags were home with Biddeford Tuesday, visit Bonny Eagle Thursday and host Noble Tuesday of next week.

Portland had no trouble with Thornton Academy in its first game, winning 5-1, but since then, the road’s gotten tougher for the Bulldogs. Last Tuesday night, Portland got to take a crack at the gold standard in Western A, the two-time state champion Scarborough Red Storm. The teams were even at the half and after Scarborough took a 1-0 lead early in the second half, the Bulldogs tied things up when freshman sensation Tony Yekah deflected home a shot from senior standout Fazal Nabi, but the Red Storm scored twice more and went on for a 3-1 triumph.

“I thought it was a well played game, pretty even, but when you have breakdowns against a team like that, they’ll make you pay,” lamented longtime Bulldogs coach Rocky Frenzilli. “We came back after going down and got one, but you had a feeling in a game like this that whoever broke the tie that would be the difference.”

Saturday, Portland settled for a 2-2 tie at Windham and is now 1-1-1 on the year. Sophomore Tim Rovnak had both goals for the Bulldogs who hosted Noble Tuesday, go to Deering Friday and welcome Sanford next Tuesday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, McAuley continues to impress in the early going. The Lions beat visiting Portland, 2-0, in their opener, then won twice last week, 2-0 at home over Biddeford and 1-0 at Massabesic. Against the Tigers, Katherine Lake and Christina Leake had the goals. Emily Verhoven scored the winner against the Mustangs.

“The game versus Massebesic went well in many aspects,” said McAuley coach Vince Aceto. “We had a solid 80 minutes played by every player. Emily’s direct kick game winner was one of the best shots I have seen taken since I have been coaching girls’ soccer.

“The girls know that the season is long and we’re trying to stay healthy knowing that every opponent delivers a new challenge and that they need to rise up and be ready. So far, the girls are enjoying themselves. They have such a spirit about the game and are always there for each other on and off the field. They like to refer to it as the ‘McAuley way.’ As a coach, I admire the way they conduct themselves as student athletes representing Catherine McAuley High School and the soccer program.”

The Lions, who only won three times in 2009, hope to go 4-0 Friday when they host Windham. Next Tuesday, McAuley visits powerhouse Gorham.

Cheverus is also unbeaten to date. The Stags, who won, 2-1, at Gorham in the opener, romped 7-2 over visiting Marshwood Wednesday behind freshman Abby Maker’s two goals. Friday, Cheverus hosted South Portland looking to go 3-0, but had to settle for a scoreless tie.

“Sometimes the ball just won’t go in,” said Stags coach Dan LaVallee. “I’m disappointed with the result, but not the way the girls played. South Portland played well. I would have sworn we wouldn’t have gotten shut out this year. The defense is jelling the way I thought it would. (Senior) captain Kaitlin Doherty has done a great job bringing the group together. I think our offense is good. We just have to keep taking shots and they’ll go in eventually.”

Cheverus is at Biddeford Wednesday, hosts Bonny Eagle Friday and welcomes Noble Monday.

Deering has quietly impressed. The Rams beat host Sanford, 2-0, in the opener. After dropping a 3-1 home decision to Gorham (freshman Cole Spike had the goal), Deering improved to 2-1 Friday with a 6-1 home romp over Noble. In that one, senior Amanda Masse and junior Alexis Sivovlos both scored twice. Senior Aarika Viola and freshman Alexis Elowitch had the other tallies.

The Rams go to Westbrook Wednesday, visit Portland Friday and play at Marshwood Tuesday.

Portland is still seeking its first victory, but has shown improvement. After falling, 2-0, at McAuley in the opener, the Bulldogs lost, 8-0, at powerhouse Scarborough Wednesday. Friday, Portland welcomed Windham for its home opener and the teams were scoreless until the 72nd minute when the Eagles got the lone goal of the game to win, 1-0.

“I was very happy with how hard the team played,” said Bulldogs coach Dave Levasseur. “It was a positive improvement in effort from our first two games and although we didn’t win, the girls played better as a unit and were much more composed than they were against a very strong Scarborough team. We just need to stay positive. It’s a long season. We won’t give up. We’re in this together as a program.”

Portland goes to Noble Wednesday, hosts Deering Friday and plays at Marshwood Monday and Sanford Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, Waynflete held off visiting Old Orchard Beach, 4-2, in its opener, last Tuesday, thanks to three goals from senior Izzer Berrang. The following day, the Flyers had the unenviable task of hosting defending Class B champion York. The Wildcats grabbed a 2-0 lead before junior Becky Smith pulled Waynflete within a goal on a gorgeous free kick from the left sideline. York scored twice in the second half and went on to a 4-1 victory.

“York’s a very good team,” said second-year Flyers coach Todd Dominski. “I think eventually, their ball movement wore us down a little bit. They have athletes and they know how to win. I think it’s coming along. Today is a step up from yesterday. I think we played well for 60 minutes out of the 80, then we lost our legs and got a little tired. We’ll keep working at it.”

Waynflete hosted rival North Yarmouth Academy Tuesday.

“I think playing tougher teams is going to be good for us,” said Dominski. “We’re young and adjusting to new players and new positions. We’re trying to find ways to score. We’re a much different team this year. I think we’ll have closer games.”

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey squad has yet to lose in 2010. The Stags, regional finalists a year ago, rolled, 5-0, at Deering in the opener, then downed visiting Kennebunk (3-0) and host Massabesic (2-1) last week to improve to 3-0. Against Kennebunk, senior standout Emily Sawchuck had a pair of goals. In the win over the Mustangs, Cheverus had to rally and did so, thanks to strikes from junior Sarah LaQuerre and senior Anna McDonough.

The Stags hosted Noble Tuesday, have a big test at Sanford Thursday, welcome South Portland Saturday and play at Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Portland lost its first two outings, 5-1 at defending Class A champion Scarborough and 2-0 to visiting Thornton Academy (senior goalie Kathleen Dalbec had 13 saves in a losing effort), but Friday, at Windham, the Bulldogs got a dose of confidence with a 3-2 overtime triumph over the Eagles to improve to 1-2.

Leanne Reichert had a highlight reel diving goal on a corner in the first half and junior Raechel Allen scored in the second, but the Eagles forced OT where senior Effie Drew set up classmate Maura O’Conor on a penalty corner for the victory.

“It did feel good to get that win especially since that is the exact type of game that we routinely lost last year,” said Bulldogs coach Beth Arsenault. “We had also lost to them in a preseason scrimmage and in the past that may have derailed us before the game ever started. In OT, Eleni Anderson was extremely strong, backed by Effie Drew in the middle of the field. Let’s hope we can get a little momentum from this!”

Portland was home against Bonny Eagle Tuesday, visits Deering Thursday and hosts Massabesic Monday.

McAuley is 1-2 in the early going. After dropping their opener, 3-0, at Thornton Academy, the Lions defeated visiting Windham, 2-0. Seniors Sara Mercier and Tori Tenenbaum had the goals. Friday, McAuley fell, 3-0, at Bonny Eagle.

The Lions were home with Deering Tuesday, play at Kennebunk Thursday and Massabesic Saturday and play host to Noble Monday of next week.

Deering is still seeking its initial win.

The Rams have yet to score, falling 5-0 to Cheverus, 3-0 to Gorham and 1-0 to Marshwood (junior goalie Caley Presby continued to impress with 19 saves). Deering played at McAuley Tuesday, hosts Portland Thursday, visits Scarborough Friday and welcomes Thornton Academy Monday.

In Western C, Waynflete is 1-1. The Flyers lost, 2-1, at Freeport in the opener (despite a goal from Alida Farrell) then bounced back Saturday by beating host Traip, 2-1, on Farrell’s overtime goal. Roz Gray-Bauer had the other Waynflete goal.

The Flyers hosted Poland Monday, welcome Sacopee Wednesday and Yarmouth Friday.

Cross country

The cross country season got underway last weekend. Cheverus hosted Windham and Biddeford. The defending Class A champion girls’ team (ranked first in the latest coaches’ poll) won its meet as junior Emily Durgin was the top individual with a time of 19 minutes, 14 seconds. The boys’ team, also defending a championship, came in third. Junior Lukas Temple had the best time (17:54, which placed him third). Friday, Cheverus (along with Massabesic and Thornton Academy) runs at Gorham.

Both Deering teams hosted Massabesic and Westbrook Saturday, and both came in second behind the Mustangs. The Rams join Bonny Eagle at Sanford Friday.

McAuley joined Kennebunk and Sanford at Gorham for its first meet and placed fourth. Friday, the Lions (along with Kennebunk and Scarborough) are at Westbrook.

Portland and Bonny Eagle competed at Noble Saturday. The Bulldogs won the boys’ meet as junior Dexter Morris was second (18:29). On the girls’ side, Portland came in second to Bonny Eagle. Junior Maxine Eisenberg (fifth, 24:59) was the team’s top finisher. The Bulldogs join Marshwood at Windham Friday.

Waynflete’s teams were both third in a meet at Yarmouth last weekend. NYA, Traip and Wells also took part. Sophomore Martha Veroneau was tops on the girls’ side with her time of 22:45. The Flyers join Fryeburg at Merriconeag Friday.

Golf

On the links, Deering continues to set the pace. The Rams took a 3-0 mark into Monday’s match with Portland, which is 0-2 so far. Cheverus is 2-1 after wins last week over Portland (10-3) and South Portland (9-4). Waynflete took an 0-3 mark into Monday’s match at NYA.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

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Portland’s Leanne Reichert dives to score a goal off a penalty corner during the first half of the Bulldogs game at Windham Friday. Portland went on to earn its first victory of the season, 3-2, on Maura O’Conor’s goal.

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