(Ed. Note: For the complete Scarborough-Cheverus boys’ soccer, Cape Elizabeth-Greely and South Portland-Deering girls’ soccer and Cape Elizabeth-Freeport and South Portland-Portland field hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

As the fall sports season chugs toward its midway point, local football, soccer, field hockey, cross country, golf and volleyball teams continue to show promise.

Here’s a look at what you might have missed and what’s to come:

Football

South Portland’s football team rode the wave from its upset win over Bonny Eagle into Massabesic last Friday and prevailed again, 20-6, to improve to 2-1. It was a defensive struggle most of the way as the Red Riots took a 7-0 lead to halftime and still led by that margin in the fourth period before Hayden Owen scored a pair of touchdowns to help South Portland hold on. The Red Riots go to 0-3 Noble Saturday. Last year, South Portland handled the visiting Knights, 41-14.

Scarborough fell to 0-3 after a 54-0 home loss to undefeated powerhouse Thornton Academy. The Golden Trojans went ahead, 21-0, after one period, led, 35-0, at halftime, then put it away with 19 more points in the third period. The Red Storm seek their first victory Saturday, but it won’t come easily as defending Class A champion Bonny Eagle (2-1) pays a visit. Last year, Scarborough lost twice at the Scots: 34-26 in the regular season and 27-0 in the Western A semifinals.

Cape Elizabeth suffered its first loss in three outings, 49-7, at Wells. The Capers, playing their first game without standout senior quarterback Noah Wolfinger, trailed early, 7-0, but drew even when quarterback Jeb Boechenstein hit Ben Ekedahl for a long touchdown. That would prove to be Cape Elizabeth’s highwater mark, as the Warriors went ahead, 14-7, after one period, extended it to 36-7 at halftime, then added two more TDs in the third quarter to account for the final score. The Capers hope to bounce back Friday at home, but they face the daunting task of going up against 3-0 Spruce Mountain, the preseason favorite. Last year, Cape Elizabeth lost at Spruce Mountain, 36-14.

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough’s two-time defending Class A state champion boys’ soccer team keeps on keeping on. The Red Storm improved to 6-0 after handling host Sanford (3-1) and visiting Cheverus (2-0), extending their two-season win streak to 23 games. Against the Spartans, Wyatt Bridgham, Matt Caron and Spencer Pettengill had the goals. In the win over the Stags, Caron was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce which led to a goal in the first half and Garrett King outleaped the Cheverus goalkeeper to produce the second on a header in the second half.

“It was a good game for our team,” said Caron. “Most of our work was on the defensive end. We got kind of lucky goals. We gutted it out.”

“I thought we played well defensively,” Scarborough coach Mark Diaz said. “That’s what I’m most proud of today. It was an 80-minute defensive game for us. We stayed focused.”

The Red Storm played at Noble Wednesday, visit Massabesic Tuesday, then have back-to-back home tests against Gorham next Thursday and Deering Oct. 7.

“We’re getting better as we go on,” Caron said. “We get better every game, but we’re not even close to where we can be potential-wise.”

“We know we have a long way to go,” Diaz said. “Next week and the week after will be big tests for us.”

South Portland evened its record at 3-3 with recent shutout victories over visiting Noble (6-0) and host Windham (1-0). Against the Knights, Kervens Anthoine and Ahmed Suja both scored twice, while Tristan Campbell and Gary Maietta had one goal apiece. Suja had the goal in the win over the Eagles. The Red Riots host Deering in a key test Friday, welcome Biddeford Tuesday of next week, then go to Portland Thursday of next week.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth settled for a 1-1 home draw against Falmouth Saturday (R.J. Sarka had the Capers goal), then lost at undefeated, reigning Class B state champion Greely Tuesday, 2-1 (Griffin Thoreck had the lone tally). Cape Elizabeth (3-2-1) went to Lake Region Friday, hosts Yarmouth Tuesday and goes to Kennebunk Thursday.

In Western D, Greater Portland Christian School continues to dazzle, improving to 6-0-1 after recent victories over host Temple Academy (4-0), host Islesboro (5-1) and visiting Chop Point (6-0). Ethan Spaulding had four goals against Islesboro and a hat trick against Chop Point. The Lions were at Highview Christian Wednesday.

Girls’ soccer

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B state champion girls’ soccer team has been up and down in the first half of the 2014 season. The Capers made it three wins in a row last Friday with an impressive 3-0 victory at Falmouth, but Tuesday, Cape Elizabeth lost at home to rival Greely in a Western B Final rematch, 3-0.

“Football is a game of chances,” said Capers coach Craig Fannan after the setback. “Unfortunately, they took theirs and we didn’t take ours. It seemed like the football gods were against us. Congratulations to Greely. They were excellent tonight. I was expecting they would be good.”

Cape Elizabeth (4-3) hosts Yarmouth Tuesday and welcomes Kennebunk Thursday.

“I’m not concerned,” Fannan said. “We responded great after we lost to York and Yarmouth (earlier in the season) and I think we’ll do it again. We have a tough road ahead of us, but we know we can beat anybody out there.”

In Western A, Scarborough suffered its first loss last Wednesday, 3-2, at Marshwood. Katherine Kirk and Ashley Perriello had the goals in defeat. Saturday, the Red Storm bounced back and improved to 4-1 with a 6-0 home victory over Sanford. Kirk had three goals, while Perriello, Ashley Gleason and Gaby Panagakos also scored. Scarborough was home with Noble Wednesday, goes to McAuley Friday and hosts Massabesic Tuesday.

South Portland got its first victory last Wednesday, 1-0, over visiting Westbrook on Sam Munson’s overtime goal. After playing host McAuley to a scoreless tie Friday, the Red Riots fell, 2-0, at Deering Monday night. In that one, goalkeeper Emma Russell stopped 13 shots and South Portland had some chances, but fell short.

“Soccer is a funny sport,” said Red Riots first-year coach Jeff Selser. “One of the mysteries of soccer is that sometimes the team that plays best in the field doesn’t come out with the goals. We had two tiny defensive letdowns which unfortunately led to goals, but I thought we dominated 60, 70 percent of the game. In my opinion, the better team did not win. We looked awesome out there. I’m very proud of how we played.”

South Portland was home against defending Class A champion Windham Wednesday and welcomes Biddeford Wednesday of next week.

In Western D, GPCS took an 0-5 record into Thursday’s game at Highview Christian. The Lions go to Buckfield Friday, hosts Rangeley Monday and welcomes Highview Christian Wednesday.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s field hockey team remains undefeated, but barely. Last Thursday, the Red Storm got taken to overtime at Sanford, but survived, 2-1, when Abby Walker scored in overtime. Ashley Levesque also scored. Monday, Scarborough improved to 6-0 with a 9-0 home win over Windham. Lily Nygren led the way with three goals, while Walker, Levesque, Maddy Dobecki, Gabby Farino, Kristen Levesque and Kristen Murray also rattled the cage. The Red Storm played at South Portland Wednesday, host Thornton Academy Friday, go to Westbrook Tuesday and host Biddeford Wednesday of next week.

South Portland fell to 1-5 after a 5-3 home loss to Portland and a 4-2 setback at Sanford. Against the Bulldogs, the Red Riots took a 3-1 lead behind two goals from Lydia Henderson and one from Michelle Medici, but couldn’t hold on.

“We’ve been working really hard to gain a big lead, but in the second half, the girls just went back to their old ways of just swinging and not working together as a team,” South Portland coach Leslie Dyer said. “I’m hoping this is something the girls will learn from. I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Against the Spartans, Medici and Kelby Doyle scored. The Red Riots hosted Scarborough Wednesday, go to Windham Friday and Thornton Academy Tuesday and welcome Westbrook Thursday of next week.

“We’ll move forward,” Dyer said. “We’ll get there, but we have to show up for 60 minutes. Making playoffs is our goal.”

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth sandwiched 2-0 losses at Freeport and Yarmouth around a 2-1 double overtime home victory over Kennebunk. At the Falcons, the Capers couldn’t finish some chances.

“We played OK in the first half and we didn’t bring it in the second half,” Holland said. “They outhustled us, bottom line.”

In the victory, Taylor Herrera scored in regulation and Megan Nicholson won it. Cape Elizabeth had two penalty stroke opportunities at undefeated Yarmouth, but couldn’t convert and fell to 5-4. The Capers go to Kennebunk Monday and host Falmouth Wednesday.

“I’m still very hopeful,” Holland said. “I know we can play well when we want to.”

Volleyball

Scarborough’s volleyball team took a 5-1 record into Wednesday’s home match against Kennebunk. The Red Storm have a huge home showdown versus powerhouse Greely Monday and go to Lake Region Wednesday.

Cape Elizabeth improved to 4-1 Tuesday after a 3-1 (25-19, 12-25, 25-11, 25-13) win at Cheverus. The Capers go to Falmouth Friday, host Windham Saturday and welcome Biddeford Monday.

South Portland fell at Falmouth in straight sets last Thursday (9-25, 18-25, 13-25), but got in the win column Tuesday, blanking visiting Cony (25-13, 25-13, 25-23). The Red Riots (1-5) went Cheverus Thursday and host Windham Monday.

Cross country

The cross country season continued last weekend.

Cape Elizabeth joined Lake Region, Waynflete and Yarmouth in a key meet at Greely. Kyle Kennedy (16 minutes, 50 seconds) and Mitch Morris (17:02) went 1-2 in the boys’ race, but the Capers were second to Greely as a team. In the girls’ meet, won by Greely, Cape Elizabeth came in third and was placed by Sam Feenstra, who placed seventh individually in 21:09.

Scarborough (along with Cheverus and Westbrook) ran at Sanford. The boys were first behind Jacob Terry’s individual victory (17:09). The girls were second to the Blue Blazes. Freshman Bethany Sholl was third individually (21:32).

South Portland ran with Bonny Eagle and Deering at Massabesic. The Red Riots girls were second to the hosts, although Casey Loring was first individually in 20:37. The boys came in third as Chris Mitchell was sixth individually (17:35).

Friday, Scarborough hosts Deering, Marshwood and Thornton Academy, South Portland joins Portland and Sanford at Gorham and Cape Elizabeth (with Sacopee Valley and Waynflete) runs at York.

Golf

Scarborough’s golf team enjoyed a key win over defending Class A champion Falmouth last week, 8-5. Tuesday, the Red Storm improved to 6-0 with a 9-4 win over Cheverus. Scarborough was at South Portland Wednesday and hosts Portland Tuesday and Falmouth Thursday of next week.

South Portland fell to 1-5 after recent losses to Falmouth (11.5-1.5) and Portland (8-5). The Red Riots were home against Scarborough Wednesday, play at Cheverus Friday, host Falmouth Tuesday and go to Deering Thursday.

Cape Elizabeth improved to 7-0 after handling York (6.5-0.5) and North Yarmouth Academy (7-0) in recent matches. After playing host to Yarmouth and Freeport earlier in the week, the Capers close the regular season Thursday at home versus Wells.

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

Sidebar Elements


Scarborough’s Matt Caron (3) is mobbed by his teammates after scoring a goal during the Red Storm’s 2-0 home win over Cheverus Saturday.

Cape Elizabeth junior Morgan Wight skies to head the ball during the Capers’ 3-0 home loss to Greely Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth’s Kyle Kennedy races to victory in last weekend’s five-team meet in Cumberland. The Capers were second to host Greely as a team.


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