The 2011 fall sports season began with a flourish last weekend and there figures to be plenty of drama to come. Here’s a glimpse at what you might have missed:

Boys’ soccer

Yarmouth’s boys’ soccer team didn’t lose a single game in 2010, but started the new year with a home setback (its first anywhere in 19 games), 2-1, to visiting Cape Elizabeth. Senior goalie Chris Knaub kept his team in the game with several saves and Tommy Sullivan had his first varsity goal. The Clippers looked to bounce back Tuesday with a tough test at York. Yarmouth hosts Greely Thursday.

Falmouth’s debut was a happier one as the Yachtsmen blanked visiting Poland, 5-0. Junior Graham Burfiend had two goals, senior Andy Murry, junior J.P. White and freshman Luke Velas one apiece. Falmouth was at Lake Region Tuesday and is idle until a showdown at Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

Freeport’s 2011 debut was an auspicious one, as the Falcons dominated visiting Lake Region, 7-0, behind two goals each from seniors Jack Dawe and Josh Weirich.  Freeport was at Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, visits Poland Thursday and hosts North Yarmouth Academy Saturday.

Greely dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 double-overtime decision to visiting York in its first outing. Senior Keegan Donnelly had the Rangers’ goal and junior goalie Elijah Leverett was solid, making eight saves. Greely was at Poland Tuesday, visits Yarmouth Thursday, welcomes Fryeburg Saturday and goes to York Monday.

NYA had no trouble in its opener, blanking visiting Traip, 7-0, as freshman D.J. Nicholas stole the show with a pair of goals. The Panthers were home against Sacopee Tuesday, go to Wells Thursday and Freeport Saturday.

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Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, defending Class B champion Falmouth got off to a sizzling start with a 7-0 triumph at Poland. Senior Alex Bernier had three goals, junior Caitlin Bucksbaum a pair. The Yachtsmen were home against Lake Region Tuesday and go to Wells Thursday.

Yarmouth dropped its opener, 4-0, at Cape Elizabeth. The Clippers looked to get in the win column Tuesday at home versus York. Yarmouth hosts Greely Thursday.

Freeport lost a 3-2 decision at Lake Region in its opener. Jocelyn Davies and Jessica Hench had the goals. The Falcons were at Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, host Poland Thursday and welcome Wells Saturday.

Greely, a Western A top contender, rolled to a 9-0 victory at Wells in its first match. The Rangers were paced by three goals and an assist from standout junior Sammi Toorish and two goals each from Kaitlyn Graham and Leah Young. Allie Morrill had a pair of assists.

NYA’s first game under new coach Matt Andreasen resulted in a 2-0 loss at Traip. The Panthers were at Sacopee Tuesday and have their home opener Thursday against Old Orchard Beach.

Field hockey

Greely’s field hockey team made a major statement in its opener, downing defending Class C champion NYA behind goals from senior CeCi Hodgkins and sophomore Cassie Demick. New senior goalie Emma Seymour held on for the shutout. The Rangers were scheduled to return to action Monday at home against Fryeburg, but that game was postponed by rain nine minutes in and rescheduled for Tuesday. After playing at Falmouth Wednesday, Greely hosts Wells Friday.

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Falmouth, which won just four times in 2010, is also off to a strong start. The Yachtsmen blanked host Wells, 4-0, then played host Lake Region to a 1-1 tie. Against the Warriors, senior Megan Fortier scored twice, while sophomores Mikey Richards and Jillian Rothweiler each had one. Richards had the goal in the tie. Falmouth’s home opener was Wednesday versus Greely. The Yachtsmen also host Cape Elizabeth Friday and resurgent Yarmouth Tuesday.

The Clippers appear to be a vastly improved team in 2011. They opened by playing visiting Cape Elizabeth (a playoff squad last fall) to a scoreless tie, but had a huge edge in possession time and chances. Saturday, Yarmouth blanked visiting Traip, 4-0, as Fiona Clarke, Lilly Daggett, Kallie Hutchinson and Carlene Shaw all scored. Yarmouth was at Lake Region Wednesday, goes to Poland Friday and Falmouth Tuesday.

In Western C, NYA, prior to its loss at Greely, defeated visiting Sacopee (a top regional threat) in its opener, 4-1. Senior Katie Cawley scored twice and classmate Katherine Millett had a goal and a pair of assists. The Panthers were at Freeport Wednesday and welcome Traip Friday.

Freeport took a 2-0 mark into its showdown with NYA. The Falcons opened with a 6-2 win at Traip, then blanked host Waynflete, 4-0. Against the Rangers, six different players scored for Freeport, as Bethany Bellefleur, Jenny Breau, Korissa Lavers, Abigail Mahoney, Kayla Thurlow and Katie Turner did the honors. Thurlow and Turner had two assists apiece. In the win over the Flyers, Turner had a hat trick and Thurlow added a goal. The Falcons host Poland Saturday and Sacopee Tuesday.

Volleyball

The Falmouth volleyball team, which has lost in the past two state final matches, opened its 2011 campaign with a 3-0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-12) triumph at Cape Elizabeth Friday. The Yachtsmen were at Lake Region Tuesday, host Biddeford in a state final rematch Friday and welcome Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Perennial powerhouse Greely opened Tuesday at home against Yarmouth, then went to Gorham Wednesday. After hosting Kennebunk Friday, the Rangers are at Biddeford next Tuesday.

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North Yarmouth Academy’s first match was Tuesday at Cony. The Panthers host Gorham Thursday.

Yarmouth battled hard at Biddeford in its opener, but lost in three dramatic sets (24-26, 23-25, 17-25). Senior Suzanne Driscoll had eight service points, eight assists, eight digs and two blocks. Senior Morgan Cahill had five service points, seven kills, eight blocks and seven digs. Sophomore Caroline Petitti was 13-for-13 in serves, collecting seven service points. Senior Lydia Ruetty collected six service points in a row at one juncture.

“We lost, but we came away feeling pretty good,” said Yarmouth coach Jim Senecal. “The first two games could have gone either way.”

The Clippers were at Greely Tuesday, host Cape Elizabeth Thursday and welcome Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

The 2011 cross-country season is off to a fast start for local schools.

Greely hosted Boothbay, Fryeburg, Merriconeag and Wells Friday and both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed first. Sophomore Kirstin Sandreuter won the girls’ meet with a time of 19 minutes, 38 seconds, more than two minutes faster than runner-up Eva Meehan-Bates (21:49). Merriconeag’s Zoe Chase-Donahue was third (22:08). In the boys’ competition, Stefan Sandreuter was the top Ranger (third, 17:30). Jack Pierce of Merriconeag was runner-up (17:20). Greely is third in the latest coaches’ poll.

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Falmouth played host to NYA, Lake Region and York. The Yachtsmen boys (ranked second in the coaches’ poll) were first with the Panthers (ranked seventh by the coaches) second. Falmouth senior Tim Follo was the individual winner (16:54.20). NYA was paced by runner-up senior Cam Regan (17:20). The Yachtsmen girls were second to York with the Panthers third. Falmouth senior Molly Paris was runner-up individually (22:16). NYA senior Hillary Detert placed fifth (22:55).

Freeport and Yarmouth (along with Waynflete) took part in a meet at Poland. The Clippers won the girls’ meet, with the Falcons second. Individually, Freeport sophomore Nina Davenport came in third (23:29) and Yarmouth freshman Gabrielle Beaulieu was fourth (23:42). On the boys’ side, The Falcons were first and the Clippers third. Individually, Freeport senior Taylor Saucier was runner-up (18:27) and Yarmouth sophomore Braden Becker came in third (18:44).

Friday, Falmouth (with Gray-New Gloucester) goes to Merriconeag, NYA welcomes Greely and Poland and Yarmouth joins Sacopee and York at Fryeburg. Saturday, Freeport hosts Cape Elizabeth, Lake Region, Traip and Wells.

Golf

Falmouth, the defending Class B state golf champion, began its run in Class A last Thursday in ideal fashion, blanking South Portland, 13-0. The Yachtsmen have a couple big tests coming up when they host Cheverus Thursday and go to Deering Monday.

Greely opened with wins over Westbrook (10.5-2.5) and Bonny Eagle (8.5-4.5). A home match versus Thornton Academy Monday looms as a big test.

Freeport got off to a promising start with 5-2 wins over Lake Region and Fryeburg. The Falcons host Yarmouth Monday.

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Speaking of which, Yarmouth lost to York in its opener, 4.5-2.5, but bounced back to beat Cape Elizabeth (5-2) and Poland (5.5-1.5).  The Clippers have a rematch at York Thursday.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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Greely runners (from left) Nestor Taylor, Nate Madeira and Isaak Emery keep each other company during a season-opening meet in Cumberland last week. The Rangers defeated Boothbay, Fryeburg, Merriconeag and Wells as Madeira finished fourth, Emery fifth and Taylor sixth.

Greely’s Eva Meehan-Bates races toward a second-place individual finish in the girls’ race, which the Rangers also captured.


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