Freeport
Football
Sept. 8 Sacopee Valley 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 @ Traip Academy 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 @ Lisbon 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 Old Orchard Beach 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 @ Telstar 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 Winthrop 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 Yarmouth 1:30 p.m.
Coach: Rob Grover
Last years record: 5-4, lost in first round of playoffs
Key players: Dan Burke (Sr.-FB/LB), James Purdy (Sr.-QB/LB), Jared Polly (Sr.-RB/CB), Darnell Strothers (Jr.-G/DT), Cam Buthlay (Jr.-TE/S)
Key games: Sept. 15 at Traip, Sept. 22 at Lisbon, Oct. 20 vs. Yarmouth
Season outlook: In just its third season at the varsity level the Falcons made it to the playoffs for the first time last season and have the goal of earning a home playoff game this fall. Four-year starters and all-conference performers Purdy and Burke will be the leaders of the offense and defense, respectively, and Grover said the pair act as an extra set of coaches out on the field. Defensively, Grover said he expects his team to be one of the best in Class C, but how far Freeport goes could depend on the offensive line, which returns just Strothers from last year’s starters. A regular-season ending matchup at home with rivals Yarmouth, who the Falcons have yet to beat, will be a good measuring stick in determining how much of a playoff threat Freeport will be come late October.
Boys Soccer
Sept. 4 Greely 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 @ Lake Region 6 p.m.
Sept. 8 Fryeburg Academy 2:45 p.m.
Sept. 13 @ Gray-New Gloucester 6 p.m.
Sept. 15 @ Waynflete 11 a.m.
Sept. 18 Falmouth 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 @ NYA 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 Poland 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 @ Yarmouth 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 @ Cape Elizabeth 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 York 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 @ Fryeburg Academy 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 Gray-New Gloucester 3:30 p.m.
Coach: Joe Heathco
Last year’s record: 7-8-1, lost in Western Maine quarterfinals
Key players: Connor Dietrich (Sr.-forward), Parker Matheson (Sr.-midfielder), Landon Easler (Sr.-midfielder), Harry Stivers (Jr.-defense), Brandon Qualls (So.-goalkeeper)
Key games: Sept. 15 at Waynflete, Oct. 2 at Yarmouth, Oct. 9 at York
Season outlook: Freeport has made the playoffs 13 times in Heathco’s 15 seasons in charge and looks like a safe bet to return this season. With six sophomores and three freshmen on the varsity roster, the Falcons will be one of the younger squads in Class B West, and will rely on senior leaders Dietrich, Easler and returning league all-star Matheson to both score the bulk of the goals and provide strong leadership out on the field. The Falcons are a balanced and deep squad this season, and Heathco said his team should be technically strong on the ball and create plenty of chances with good off-the-ball runs and ball movement, and that the key would be staying out of rough games against more physically imposing teams. Freeport usually gets stronger as the season progresses and a late-season match with York, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season, could go a long way in showing how much of a contender the Falcons will be.
Girls Soccer
Sept. 4 @ Greely 6 p.m.
Sept. 8 Lake Region 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 @ Fryeburg Academy 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 Gray-New Gloucester 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 Waynflete 11 a.m.
Sept. 18 @ Falmouth 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 @ Old Orchard Beach 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 NYA 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 @ Poland 6 p.m.
Sept. 29 @ Wells 11 a.m.
Oct. 2 Yarmouth 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 Cape Elizabeth 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 @ York 6 p.m.
Oct. 13 Poland 11 a.m.
Coach: Elayna Girardin
Last year’s record: 8-8, lost in Western Maine quarterfinals
Key players: Jocelyn Davee (Sr.-midfield), Aubrey Pennell (Sr.-forward), Naomi Otis (Sr.-forward), Jess Perry (Jr.-goalkeeper) Brooke Heathco (Jr.-defense)
Key games: Sept. 15 vs. Waynflete, Sept. 19 at Yarmouth, Oct. 9 at York
Field Hockey
Sept. 4 @ Sacopee Valley 4 p.m.
Sept. 8 Old Orchard Beach 4 p.m.
Sept. 11 @ Poland 4 p.m.
Sept. 14 Gray-New Gloucester 4 p.m.
Sept. 18 @ Traip Academy 4 p.m.
Sept. 20 North Yarmouth Academy 4 p.m.
Sept. 22 Poland 11 a.m.
Sept. 24 @ Waynflete 4 p.m.
Sept. 28 Sacopee Valley 4 p.m.
Oct. 2 @ Old Orchard Beach 4 p.m.
Oct. 4 @ Yarmouth 4 p.m.
Oct. 10 Traip Academy 4 p.m.
Coach: Sara Dimick
Last year’s record: 8-7, lost in Western Maine quarterfinals
Key players: Reilly Parker (Sr.-defense), Lorin Martens (Sr.-defense), Bethany Bellefley (Sr.-forward), Korissa Lavers (Sr.-forward), Meagan Peacock (Jr.-midfielder)
Key games: Sept. 20 vs. North Yarmouth Academy, Sept. 24 at Waynflete, Oct. 10 vs. Traip Academy
Season outlook: The Falcons lost six seniors off a team that made the playoffs last season but return eight of last year’s juniors, making them one of the more experienced teams in Class C West. Most of those returnees come in defense and midfield, and led by Parker and Martens, Freeport should be a tough team to score multiple goals on this year. Putting the ball in the back of the net will be the team’s struggle and they had a hard time stringing passes together and creating chances in their opening game 3-0 defeat to defending Class C champions North Yarmouth Academy last Wednesday. If the Falcons can find one or two threats up front and find chemistry slotting newer players into the lineup next to returners, they should be a team to lookout for come playoff time.
Boys and Girls ?Cross Country
Sept. 7 @ Cape Elizabeth 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 Home 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 @ Manchester Invitational 9 a.m.
Sept. 28 @ Poland 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 @ Greely 4:30 p.m.
Coach: Brian Berkemeyer
Key runners: Ceira Wentworth (Sr.), Lia Wellen (Sr.), Vinnie Zolla (Sr.), Mason Cyr (Sr.), Chris West Sr.), Bennett Brainard (Sr.), Gabby Tilton (Jr.), Emily Jennings (Jr.), Hayley Steckler (Jr.)
Key meet: Sept. 7 at Cape Elizabeth against Cape Elizabeth, Lake Region, Traip Academy and Wells.
Season outlook: The girls team returns a strong core of junior-class talent while a strong group of seniors should lead the boys team. Both squads have plenty of depth but will need to develop front-runners to score the big points needed to compete at regionals and states. Berkemeyer said with a tough schedule staying healthy will be key, and believes that both teams have the talent to get to states. “If all goes well, they could be a top contending team,” he said of the girls team, while of the boys he said, “If they all finish strong, then they could be the team to beat.”
Golf
Sept. 6 @ NYA 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 @ Yarmouth 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 Waynflete 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 @ Sacopee Valley 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 OOB & Cape Elizabeth 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 York 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 @ York 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Yarmouth 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 @ Cape Elizabeth 3:30 p.m.
Coach: Jay Lemont
Last year’s record: 3-9
Key players: Nick Cartmell, (Sr.) Nick Tardif, (Sr.) Jonathan Mervine (Sr.) Clayton Morrison, (Sr.), Wynne Cushing (So.)
Key matches: Sept. 6 at North Yarmouth Academy, Sept. 12 vs. Waynflete, Sept. 24 at York
Season outlook: Freeport will look to improve on its record from last year with a strong returning crop of experienced golfers, with Lemont saying he expected them to be somewhere in the middle of the pack. Cushing is the first girl to play for the varsity team and has a chance to qualify for the girls state tournament, while Cartmell is hoping to make his mark as an individual as well. Lemont said improving each of his golfer’s game every day is his priority.
Freeport’s Bethany Bellefley (14) plays against North Yarmouth Academy on Aug. 29. Bellefley, a senior, is one of the key returning players for the Falcons.
The Freeport field hockey team walks to head coach Sara Dimick after its opening-game 3-0 loss to defending Class C state champions North Yarmouth Academy Aug. 29.
Freeport’s Olivia Bubar dribbles into the North Yarmouth defense Aug. 29.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.