FOOTBALL

Coach: Sean Green (second year)

2020 results: No season
2019 record: 5-4 (Lost, 42-41, in double-overtime, to Freeport in Class C South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Colin Campbell (senior), Gabe Harrison (senior), Colin Smith (senior), Nick Laughlin (junior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 10 FRYEBURG, Sept. 18 @ Gardiner, Oct. 1 YORK, Oct. 8 @ Leavitt, Oct. 16 WELLS

Coach’s comment: “We’re looking good. I’m very optimistic. We have a very athletic team and plenty of returners from 2019. That year, we were young. I felt we would have been great last year and this year, we can be. We’re very fast. We hope to be explosive on offense. I think if we stay healthy, we can compete with anybody on our schedule.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth would have been very strong a year ago, but never got an opportunity to play due to the pandemic. This fall, the Capers, who return some solid talent and have added some key newcomers, are looking forward to strutting their stuff.

Caden McDuffie, a senior captain, is the quarterback. He comes to the program from Las Vegas and has what it takes as a leader and player to get great things out of his teammates. Campbell, a captain, who is coming off a terrific lacrosse season, will be a lead rusher. Laughlin and seniors Jack Gorman and Caden Lee are top receiving threats. Captains Harrison and Smith anchor the line.

On defense, Harrison is the top lineman, McDuffie and Smith play linebacker and Campbell, Gorman, Laughlin and Lee are in the secondary.

While the promise is there, Cape Elizabeth still has to get it done on the field. The Capers should be competitive with everyone on the schedule and when all is said and done, they could be the squad best equipped to give powerhouse Leavitt a scare in the playoffs.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Coach: Ben Raymond (16th year, 125-77-28 overall record)

2020 results: 2-5-1 (no postseason)
2019 record: 7-7-1 (Lost, 3-2, in double-overtime, to Freeport in Class B South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Stewart Kelley (senior), Tiernan Lathrop (senior), Tucker Livingston (senior), Eddie Caldera (junior), Jack Carignan (junior), Sebastian Moon (junior), Sam Cochran (sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 2 YARMOUTH, Sept. 11 @ Greely, Sept. 14 YORK, Sept. 17 FREEPORT, Sept. 21 @ Waynflete, Oct. 5 @ Yarmouth, Oct. 8 GREELY, Oct. 14 @ York, Oct. 19 @ Freeport

Coach’s comment: “We graduated quite a bit, but it’s great to be back out there. One of the benefits of last year was that more kids played than would have if we were playing for Heal Points and we’re seeing the benefit of that. I’m not sure what to expect. It should be interesting to see how it lines up. We hope to get better each game and play well in the tournament.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth believes it can be one of the last teams standing, battling the likes of Yarmouth, Freeport, Greely and York for the Class B South title at the end of the season. The Capers feature some talented veterans and have some key additions as well.

Lathrop, who was sensational during Cape Elizabeth’s undefeated run to the boys’ lacrosse state title in the spring, will make opposing defenders lose sleep in soccer as well. His size, speed and skill will allow him to control play in the midfield and score up top, even when he’s double-teamed. Cochran and Kelley can also play midfield or forward. Other midfielders to watch include Caldera, Carignan, Moon and senior Crispin Duryee. Livingston anchors the defense with help from sophomore Alex Van Huystee. senior Quinn Gordon takes over in goal.

The Capers open with Yarmouth and will get a quick idea of where they stand in the Class B South pecking order. Multiple games versus Freeport, Greely and York, as well as one with Class C power Waynflete, makes for a daunting slate, but Cape Elizabeth will be better for it when the postseason arrives. By then, the Capers will be well equipped for a deep run.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Coach: Graham Forsyth (fourth year, 42-1 overall record, two state championships)

2020 results: 7-0 (no postseason)
2019 record: 17-1 (Beat Hermon, 4-0, to win second consecutive Class B state championship)

Top returning players: Elise Branch (senior), Maggie Cochran (senior), Caroline Gentile (senior), Emily Supple (senior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 2 @ Yarmouth, Sept. 11 GREELY, Sept. 14 @ York, Sept. 17 @ Freeport, Oct. 5 YARMOUTH, Oct. 8 @ Greely, Oct. 14 YORK, Oct. 19 FREEPORT

Coach’s comment: “We hope to win the state championship, but we lost a full back line and graduated Laura Ryer, who scored a lot. We have game changing players, but Yarmouth’s starting 11 is better than ours this year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Either Forsyth is a master motivator or he knows something the rest of us don’t, but considering the rate at which the Capers have won the past three years, they have to be considered the favorite until someone dethrones them. Even last year, in a season with no playoffs due to the pandemic, Cape Elizabeth won every game while Cochran added a few more chapters to her legend, including a six-goal tour de force against Greely. There’s no doubt the Capers have a few more question marks than normal this fall, but by season’s end, they’ll have them answered.

It seems like just yesterday that Cochran showed up as a freshman and first made a splash. It wasn’t long before she was the most prolific scorer around and before she departs to go play at Northeastern University in Boston, she’s sure to tickle the twine on a regular basis. Supple is another top returner. She’ll control the middle of the field, will set up teammates in optimal spots and can finish as well. Forsyth believes Gentile could be in for a huge season of scoring, which will make Cape Elizabeth even more challenging to defend. A newcomer who won’t be unknown for long is freshman C.C. Duryee, who will play on the wing. senior Ellie Gagne is the most experienced defender, while senior Penny Haydar also has been involved in big games. Branch returns in goal and sophomore Ellis Piper could also see time between the pipes.

If Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth are on a playoff collision course, we’ll get a sneak preview in the opener Thursday, but that game and the teams’ regular season rematch will be more about postseason positioning than anything else. If they play again in October or early November, that will be the one that counts. The Capers will also have to contend with Freeport, Greely and York and while they might not get through the season unscathed, they’re going to be very difficult to beat when it matters most.

FIELD HOCKEY

Coach: Maura Bisogni (sixth year)

2020 results: 3-4-1 (no postseason)
2019 record: 7-8 (Lost, 1-0, to Lake Region in Class B South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Carmen Erickson (senior), Camden Woods (senior), Grace Gray (junior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 3 @ York, Sept. 11 FREEPORT, Sept. 13 @ Greely, Sept. 18 @ Yarmouth, Sept. 23 GREELY, Oct. 2 @ Freeport, Oct. 6 YORK

Coach’s comment: “We are excited for competitive play and close games. We are excited to play a full schedule and to play strong and stay mentally tough for all four quarters. We want to make the most of this opportunity.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth features some strong returning players and some newcomers who should step right in and help the cause.

The offense will be led by Gray and Woods. Erickson is a top defender. She’ll be joined by new sophomore Piper Rickman. sophomore Zoe Burgard will be in goal. sophomore Sophia Chung could step in and make her presence felt in the midfield.

The Capers will get an immediate idea of where they stand when they take on perennial regional champion York in the opener. Cape Elizabeth has a very tough schedule, but should be able to compete with everyone in Class B South. The Capers hope to be at their best by the time the playoffs commence.

VOLLEYBALL

Coach: Sarah Boeckel (eighth year, 93-22 overall record, two state championships)

2020 results: No season
2019 record: 12-5 (Lost, 3-0, to Yarmouth in Class B state match)

Top returning players: Anastasia Chepurko (senior), Maeve McQueeney (senior), Annaliese Rudberg (senior), Madison Thornton (senior), Madalyn Vaine (senior), Amy Rasco (junior), Maddy Simopolous (junior)

Pivotal matches: Sept. 9 YARMOUTH, Sept. 11 @ Falmouth, Sept. 13 SCARBOROUGH, Sept. 20 @ York, Sept. 28 FALMOUTH, Oct. 4 @ Gorham, Oct. 9 @ Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “ It’ll be great to see everyone back on the court this season. We’re just excited to have a season and be together. We lost some big players, but still have a solid core. We’ll take one match at a time and try to get better every day, hoping to peak at the right time.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth was Class B runner-up in both 2018 and 2019, then missed out on the season altogether last fall due to the pandemic. This year, the Capers hope to make up for lost time by going on a championship run and it wouldn’t be wise to bet against them.

McQueeney will be the setter this year. Cape Elizabeth has several girls who can hit with abandon, including Chepurko, Rasco, Rudberg, Simopolous, Thornton and Vaine. Several other players are waiting their opportunity to see court time and contribute to the team’s success.

The Capers are again chasing Yarmouth and will be tested by other teams during the course of the season. By the time the postseason gets here, Cape Elizabeth should be primed to go all the way and it won’t be easy keeping the Capers from earning an elusive championship.

CROSS COUNTRY

Coach: Andrew Lupien (sixth year w/boys’ team, eighth year w/girls’ team)

2020 results: No state meet (girls’ team qualified)
2019 results:
(Boys) 5th @ Class B state meet
(Girls) 3rd @ Class B state meet

Top returners:
(Boys) Carter Abrahamsen (senior), Vaughn Lindenau (senior), Owen Patry (senior)
(Girls) Ella Bromage (senior), Marcella Hesser (senior), Eva Morris (senior), Lydia Branson (junior), Charlotte DeGeorge (junior), Ainsley Fremont (junior), Hadley Mahoney (sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “The girls should be one of the top teams in Class B, losing just one varsity runner to graduation last year. The team has a great mix of new and experienced runners, with talent throughout the roster. Hadley is one of the top runners in the state and we have solid depth behind her. If we can stay happy, healthy and engaged all season. we could certainly be a championship-level team. The boys are looking to once again contend for the regional and state championships. We lost some strong runners to graduation, but still return some great talent. Vaughn and Owen had a breakout season last fall and should be among the top runners in Class B. Carter is blossoming and could be a very solid number three runner. (Freshman) Lucas (Robinson) is new to the sport of cross country, but showed some strong potential last spring. Whether we can be a championship-caliber team will all depend on whether we can find strong young runners to fill out our top 10.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth’s cross country program has high hopes as a new season dawns.

The girls’ squad will be led by Mahoney, who had the best time at the state qualifier a year ago (the Capers qualified, but the state meet was canceled by a COVID surge). She’ll be in the running for the top spot in Class B this season. Bromage (11th), Morris (13th), Hesser (17th) and Fremont (24th) all have big meet experience. Branson and DeGeorge are veterans who look to move into the top seven. sophomores Maddie McEvoy and Emma Young could be wild cards who will push Cape Elizabeth to its desired spot near the top of the heap.

On the boys’ side, Lindenau is coming off a fourth-place showing at the qualifier and Patry was fifth. They’ll lead this year’s team to big things. Also scoring last season was Abrahamsen, who was 41st and hopes to move up this fall. Freshman Lucas Robinson will step right in and make an impact. If a few other boys can find a way to make up a strong pack, the Capers will be formidable in the regular season and strong at the state level.

GOLF

Coach: Dan Sullivan (first year)

2020 results: (DNQ for Class B state match)

Top returners: Jake Frame (senior), Dylan Ludington (junior), Sam Ludington (junior), Curtis Sullivan (junior)

Coach’s comment: “My hope is that we compete well all season. It’s a good group of players and it should be a fun season. My expectations are that the players will learn the game, compete to the best of their ability and have fun.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth looks to return to states and to greatness this fall as Sullivan takes over as coach. He has some talent to work with.

Sam Ludington qualified for states as an individual a year ago and shot a 91, which was good for 23rd place. Ludington, who has a solid, all-around game, hopes to move up this fall. Curtis Sullivan, who has a strong short game, also returns, as do Frame and Dylan Ludington. senior Aidan Connelly, who played in 2019 but not last fall, is back. He drives the ball well and will be looked upon as a team leader.

The Capers have a strong nucleus and should do well in the regular season. If all goes well, Cape Elizabeth will get to the state match and post a high score. The sky’s the limit for this squad.

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

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