PORTLAND – Ralph Houanche scored in the first two minutes and second-seeded Portland scored three more goals in the first half on the way to a 6-0 victory over Cheverus in the Western Class A boys’ soccer quarterfinals Wednesday.

Alain Tuyishime had two goals and Fazal Nabi added a goal and two assists for the Bulldogs (13-1-1), who will host Cape Elizabeth in a semifinal Saturday.

Much of the first half was played in a heavy, driving rain, but even going against the wind, Portland mounted a sustained attack.

Brett O’Kelly’s throw-in deep on the right was blocked in front but it went right to Houanche, who was all alone 15 yards out and drilled a shot into the low-left corner just 1:56 into the match.

“We were hoping coming in to get an early goal,” said Portland Coach Rocco Frenzilli, “because whoever (scores first) would get a real energy boost, especially in conditions like this.

“I thought both teams managed the conditions very well.”

The rain was coming down especially hard when Tuyishime scored his first goal at 10:42. Nabi started the play with a pass from midfield to Paley Burlin breaking down the left side. Burlin carried to the corner and sent it across to Tuyishime, whose shot was deflected by a defender but went in off the crossbar.

After Parker shot wide right at the other end for the seventh-seeded Stags (7-7-1), Nabi set up a goal with a pass to a charging Tony Yekeh. Goalie Peter Potthoff raced out for the ball, but Yekeh got to it first and nailed the far-left corner.

Portland edged Cheverus 1-0 in the regular season, but Nabi said the Bulldogs were prepared for the playoffs.

“We came out flat that first game and we were determined to pick it up for this one despite the conditions,” Nabi said. “It was a whole team effort.”

Tuyishime got his second goal with 11:17 left in the half after a feed from Oryem Charles. Potthoff came sliding out for the initial save, but the ball went straight back to Tuyishime and he ripped it inside the far-left post.

Andrew Schwartz made it 5-0 with 17:58 left in the second half, grounding a shot inside the right post after passes from Nabi and Yekeh, and Nabi closed it out on a terrific individual effort four minutes later.

He stripped a defender of the ball in the middle of the zone, carried it ahead and hit the low-right corner from 25 yards.

“I try to get everyone involved,” Nabi said of his playmaking abilities. “We have so many guys who can score and whenever someone’s open, you give them the shot. It shows what kind of team we have.”

 

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