Waynflete’s Askar Houssein eludes the NYA goalie during the Flyers’ dramatic 2-1, overtime, come-from-behind victory last week.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Deering-Falmouth and Waynflete-NYA boys’ soccer and Deering-Portland field hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The calendar has flipped from September to October and the drama continues to rise.

By this time next week, the first champions of fall will be crowned and several other sports will be closer to locking in playoff participants.

Here’s a look at what occurred last week and what’s to come:

Boys’ soccer

Cheverus boys’ soccer team started the week 7-1-1 and first in the Class A South Heal Points standings following a 5-1 win at Marshwood and a 3-0 home victory over Deering last week. Michael Nason scored three times and Jack Mullen and Will Mullen added one goal apiece in the victory over the Hawks. Against the Rams, Jack Mullen had two goals and Nason finished with one. The Stags were at South Portland Tuesday, host Scarborough Thursday and visit Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

Portland began the week 2-3-3 and seventh in Class A South after last Tuesday’s 2-0 loss at Sanford. The Bulldogs went to Marshwood Tuesday, host Deering Thursday and play at South Portland Tuesday of next week.

Deering fell to 4-5 and 11th in Class A South following a 3-0 home loss to Falmouth in the rain and a 3-0 setback at Cheverus. The Rams were home against Bonny Eagle Tuesday, visit Portland Thursday and welcome Sanford Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete was second to Maranacook at 6-0-2 after downing host Traip Academy (1-0) and rallying to edge visiting rival North Yarmouth Academy, 2-1, in overtime, last week. In the win over the Rangers, Houssein had the goal and Luca Antolini produced a clean sheet. The Flyers then trailed the Panthers until 1:38 remained in regulation, when Pat Shaw tied it up. Then, just 1:37 into overtime, Houssein set up Ian McClure-Chute for the game-winning tally.

“It was a lucky bounce off their guy and I had to place it and it went in,” said McClure-Chute. “We’ve worked a lot on finishing. I don’t score a lot of goals, so it was an unbelievable feeling. I couldn’t believe it was me.”

“It’s a resilient bunch,” said longtime Waynflete coach Brandon Salway. “It’s a great win, but even if we didn’t win, I would have liked the way we played. We played really well, moved the ball well. NYA is a very good team.”

The Flyers hosted Wells Tuesday, go to Fryeburg Academy Thursday, play at Sacopee Valley Saturday and travel to St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week. 

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Cheverus began the week 9-1 and third behind Gorham and Falmouth in the Class A South Heals after recent wins at Bonny Eagle (2-0) and Deering (3-0). Emma Gallant and Mia Kratzer had the goals at the Scots. In the win over the Rams, Gallant had two goals and Kratzer scored the other. The Stags host Biddeford Wednesday, welcome defending Class A South champion Scarborough Friday and play at Sanford Wednesday of next week.

Portland improved to 4-4-1 and ninth in the region after a 1-1 home tie versus Falmouth and a 10-0 win at Westbrook. Toni Stevenson had the goal in the tie. In the victory, Stevenson and Grace Stacey both scored twice, while Samira Doiron, Annika More, Isabella More, Ella Reagan, C.C. Ritter and Lydia Stein added one apiece. After visiting Thornton Academy Wednesday, the Bulldogs welcome Noble Friday and play host to Bonny Eagle next Wednesday.

Deering snapped a six-game losing streak last Wednesday with a 5-1 win at Massabesic, then fell to 2-7 Friday with a 3-0 home loss to Cheverus. Mia Sargent scored twice in the victory. The Rams (14th in Class A South) host Marshwood Wednesday, visit Thornton Academy Friday and play at Kennebunk Wednesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete fell to 1-8 and 15th following recent losses at home to Traip Academy (4-0), at NYA (2-1) and at home to Gray-New Gloucester (3-0). Kilee Sherry scored against the Panthers. Jesse Connors made 13 saves in the loss to the Patriots. The Flyers welcome NYA Wednesday, go to Sacopee Valley Saturday and play host to Old Orchard Beach Wednesday of next week.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey team was 5-5 and eighth in Class A South entering Monday’s home game against Marshwood (see theforecaster.net for game story) following a 6-2 home win over Portland and a 7-1 setback at Westbrook last week. Bella Booth scored in the loss. The Stags play at Scarborough Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome Deering Friday and close at Noble Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 3-7 and 13th in Class A South (where 12 teams make the playoffs) after a 2-1 home win over Portland and a 3-2 home victory over Noble last week. Against the Bulldogs, Alyssa Staples scored the tying goal and Donna Thach had the winner. 

“It feels good,” Thach said. “We were tired, but we wanted to win. We kept going. We’ve come a long way. We play more as a team now.”

“It was very intense, down to the wire,” said Rams coach Amethyst Hersom. “We’ve come a long way since last year.”

Against the Knights, Staples, Rebekah Dunn and Aleah Murph scored to erase a two-goal deficit. Deering was at Bonny Eagle Monday, hosts Windham Thursday, plays at Cheverus Friday and welcomes Kennebunk in the regular season finale Wednesday of next week. The Rams are seeking their first playoff berth since 2015.

Portland fell to 0-9-1 and 17th in Class A South after losses at Deering (2-1), at Cheverus (6-2) and at home to Kennebunk (5-1). Carly Hagelin had an early goal against Deering, but the Bulldogs couldn’t make it stand up.

“We had some opportunities,” Portland coach Beth Arsenault said. “We need to get used to being in the circle. I’m really proud of how we played. We’re a small squad and when you lose one (player), it does make a difference. We held up pretty well.”

Jaidyn Appel scored both goals against the Stags. Appel rattled the cage and Jada McIlwain had 22 saves in the loss to Kennebunk. The Bulldogs were at Massabesic Monday, host Biddeford Wednesday, play at South Portland Friday and close at home versus Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Volleyball

Deering’s volleyball team was 7-3 and fourth in the Class A Heals after dropping a five-set (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 13-15) decision at Cheverus and blanking visiting Bonny Eagle (29-27, 25-21, 25-22) last week. Maddy Broda had 36 assists in the loss. Broda finished with 27 assists, while Catherine Balzano and Ava Spach each had nine kills and Victoria Garand added five kills against the Scots. After hosting Massabesic Tuesday, the Rams go to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 4-5 and sixth in Class A following a five-set (25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-13) home win over Deering and a straight-set (16-25, 19-25, 15-25) home loss to Yarmouth last week. Maddie Geiger led the way in the victory with 11 kills and 25 digs. The Stags were at Bonny Eagle Tuesday, travel to Gorham Thursday and play at Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.

Portland started the week 1-7 and 13th following straight-set losses at Thornton Academy (17-25, 16-25, 20-25) and South Portland (8-25, 14-25, 18-25). Jill Joyce had six kills against the Golden Trojans. Elsa DiGiovanni had 11 digs in the loss to the Red Riots. The Bulldogs were home with Marshwood Tuesday, go to Windham Thursday and welcome defending Class A champion Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

Cheverus, Portland and Waynflete took part in the Festival of Champions cross country meet in Belfast Saturday.

In the girls’ race, Cheverus placed 15th, Portland was 30th and Waynflete came in 34th (Bonny Eagle was first). The Stags were led by Grace Turner, who was 79th on the 5-kilometer course with a time of 21 minutes, 44.89 seconds. The Bulldogs’ fastest runner was Inez Braceras (104th, 22:14.18). The Flyers were paced by Anna Wildes (80th, 21:46.33).

In the boys’ meet, won by Brunswick, Portland finished 16th, Cheverus placed 26th and Waynflete came in 38th. The Bulldogs were led by Joe Harrington (47th, 17:33.01). The Flyers’ top finisher was Henry Spritz (49th, 17:33.79). The Stags were paced by Will Herman (96th, 18:06.12).

Deering joined Biddeford and Kennebunk at Noble. The Rams girls placed first. Sierra Aponte-Clarke had the second-best individual time (21:01.39). The boys came in second behind Kennebunk and were led by Jerry Mixangelo (who was fifth in 18:05.28). 

Friday, Portland hosts Cheverus, Deering and South Portland and Waynflete joins NYA and Old Orchard Beach at Maine Coast Waldorf.

Golf

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association golf state qualifier was scheduled for Monday.

The team state match is Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

The individual state match is Saturday, Oct. 13, at Natanis.

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