A change of the calendar brings a new level of excitement to the fall sports campaign.
We’re now in the second half of the regular season schedule and every remaining contest is filled with importance.
The postseason isn’t far off and the fun is just beginning.
Here’s an overview:
Football
Portland’s Justin Charles intercepts a pass during the Bulldogs’ decisive win over Lewiston Friday Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald
For the first time this fall, all three city football teams emerged victorious on the same weekend.
One week after a narrow 14-8 loss at Bonny Eagle, Portland improved to 3-1 by dominating visiting Lewiston, 56-0. The tone was set in the first quarter, as quarterback Louis Thurston fired a 16-yard touchdown pass to Carter Lucca and a 31-yard TD strike to Cordell Jones before Aidan McGowan scored on a 1-yard run to make it 21-0 after 12 minutes. The Bulldogs poured it on in the second period, as Jones scored on a 1-yard run, Lisandro Rodrigues ran it in from the 3, McGowan broke away for a 21-yard touchdown scamper and Jones caught a 43-yard strike from Thurston to make it 50-0 at the half. After a scoreless third quarter, Justin Bouchard, who kicked six extra points earlier in the contest, caught a 28-yard TD pass from Reece Wildes.
Thurston wound up 8-of-9 for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
“If they line up one-on-one with Cordell or Aidan we know we can go deep,” Thurston said. “Coach (Sean Green) put us in a great situation so we would get those one-on-one matchups and we worked them all week so all we had to do was execute the way we do in practice.”
“We were ashamed of how we played (against Bonny Eagle),” said Lucca. “We knew from film, this is not us. We were letting them hit us before we hit them. We talked about the hammer and the nail. We were the nail a lot that week, not the hammer. Our goal was to come out here and win every aspect of the football game. I think we did.”
Portland stays home to face 1-3 Edward Little Friday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs beat the visiting Red Eddies, 40-6, a year ago.
Deering, meanwhile, improved to 4-0 last Friday by holding off host Massabesic, 21-14, continuing the Rams’ best start since 2008, when they went undefeated in the regular season. After a scoreless first quarter, the Mustangs went on top, 7-0. Joey Foley’s 3-yard touchdown run pulled Deering even, but Massabesic struck again and took a 14-7 advantage to the half, as the Rams mustered just 75 yards of offense in the first 24 minutes.
Deering coach Brendan Scully delivered a pointed message during the break.
“You’re better than this,” Scully said. “You’re letting them take it to you. We’re getting the ball in the second half. Be ready to go.
They’re very quick. We were not prepared at the beginning of the game for the speed they showed us. We didn’t respond in the first half to any adversity. They were very quick and they were all over us. We didn’t use our physicality, our strength, anything like that.”
“We started off slow and it showed, said Lauture (100 yards rushing, 80 passing). “We came out at half, and we were more energetic.”
After forcing a punt, Lauture put Deering in front with a 3-yard touchdown run late in the period. and the Rams’ defense slammed the door from there to close it out.
Deering has an even bigger test Saturday when it goes to 4-0 Kennebunk, the reigning Class B state champion, for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Deering lost, 28-6, at Kennebunk a year ago.
Saturday afternoon, Cheverus improved to 2-2 with its second consecutive victory, 34-6, over visiting Biddeford. The Stags held a 7-6 lead after one quarter, then pulled away. Matt Baker stole the show, gaining 227 yards on 24 rushes with a pair of scores. He also threw a touchdown pass to Devin Kelly. Igor Bitencourt and Isaac Horler added TD runs. Brady Mitchell had a timely interception.
Cheverus is home again Saturday at 12:30 p.m. to face 1-3 Gorham. The Stags edged the visiting Rams, 21-20, last season.
Boys’ soccer
Portland’s Paulo Joao fights for possession during Saturday’s tie at Scarborough. Hoffer photo.
On the pitch, Portland’s boys’ team hoped to give longtime coach Rocco Frenzilli his 300th career victory when it played at Scarborough Saturday, but in a terrific contest, the teams settled for a 1-1 draw. After the Red Storm struck first, the Bulldogs drew even just before halftime when Baptista Muanda scored off a corner kick.
“In my mind, I knew I had to shoot,” Muanda said. “I didn’t see the goal, I just shot. I was trying to go far corner.”
Portland had some great chances in the second half but couldn’t finish.
“The team played really, really well, but it was tough,” said Muanda. “We wanted to win but we couldn’t. I feel like the team was tired at the end.”
“I absolutely think it’s a fair result,” said Frenzilli. “You want to win, but at the same time, you don’t want to lose. I felt like neither team deserved to lose today. It was an evenly played game. We went back-and-forth. We smashed each other in the mouth and got back up.”
The Bulldogs are now 5-1-1 on the season and will try again to give Frenzilli, who founded the program in 1972 and has served as coach for 38 seasons in two different stints, his landmark victory when they host Sanford Wednesday. Kennebunk pays a visit Saturday morning.
“We’re a tough team,” Muanda said. “I think we improve a lot every single game. We want to be our best for playoffs.”
“Playoffs will be crazy,” said Frenzilli. “I’d love to get some home cooking if we can get it, but at this point, we still have half our season to go. We still have some tough teams to face.”
Deering, last year’s Class A South champion, improved to 4-3-1 with wins last week over visiting Biddeford (2-1) and host Thornton Academy (5-0). Ethan Fisher’s penalty kick was the difference against the Tigers. The other score came on an “own goal.” In the win over the Golden Trojans, Samuel Almeida scored two goals, while Augusto Daniel, Afonso Pedro de Jesus and Manuel Sapro also found the net. The Rams welcome Bonny Eagle Wednesday and have a test at South Portland Friday.
Cheverus, which lost its first three games, was 3-5 at press time after a 3-2 home win over Thornton Academy and a 3-1 setback at Westbrook last week. In the victory, Henry Huntley scored on a penalty kick and assisted on another goal and Ange-Michel Liwanga and Alex Royle had goals as well. Huntley converted another PK in the setback. Goalkeeper Griffin MacLeod stopped nine shots. The Stags welcome South Portland in a pivotal test Wednesday, then go to Massabesic Friday.
Waynflete improved to 2-3 with an 8-0 win at Sacopee Valley Saturday. George Shattuck scored three goals, Owen Duda and Lucas Plumb added two apiece and Charles Reynolds also scored. The Flyers visited St. Dom’s Monday, then welcome Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, Oak Hill Saturday and Traip Academy next Monday before playing at Freeport Tuesday of next week.
Girls’ soccer
On the girls’ side at press time, Cheverus was prepping to host two-time reigning Class A champion Scarborough in a showdown Tuesday (see our website for game story). Last week, the Stags beat visiting Deering and host Kennebunk by 3-0 scores. Against Deering, Finley Brown had two goals and Annie Vigue scored the other. Vigue also had an assist, her 29th of her career, which sets a new program record, breaking the previous mark held by Emma Gallant. At Kennebunk, Sofia Monfa had two goals and Taylor Hoglund also scored. Cheverus was scheduled to host powerhouse Gorham last week, but that game was postponed by bad weather and moved to Oct. 16. The Stags go to Massabesic Thursday then visit highly-touted Windham Tuesday of next week.
Deering was 1-5-2 after a 3-0 loss at Cheverus, a scoreless home tie versus Kennebunk and a 3-0 win at Biddeford. Goalkeeper Annabelle Price made eight saves against the Stags. In the victory, Elsa Freeman had two goals and Isa Garcia tallied the other. The Rams hosted South Portland Tuesday, welcome Windham Thursday and go to Westbrook Tuesday of next week.
Portland fell to 0-7 with losses at Scarborough (7-0) and at home to Marshwood (5-1). Goalkeeper Jane Flynn made a dozen saves against the Red Storm. In the loss to the Hawks, Kiley McCrum scored the goal. The Bulldogs went to Westbrook Tuesday, visit Kennebunk Thursday and host Massabesic Tuesday of next week.
Waynflete lost at home to two-time reigning Class B champion Yarmouth (2-0), then improved to 2-3-1 Saturday with an impressive 2-1 win over Class B South contender York. Liza Lawson’s goal was the difference against the Wildcats. The Flyers hosted St. Dom’s Tuesday, go to Gray-New Gloucester Thursday and visit Traip Academy Monday before welcoming Freeport Tuesday of next week.
Field hockey
Waynflete’s Drew Nelson eludes a Traip Academy defender during last Friday’s 2-1 home loss. Hoffer photo.
Cheverus’ field hockey team extended its regular season win streak, which dates to 2020, to 53 games after wins last week at Marshwood (5-0) and Thornton Academy (8-1). Against the Hawks, Lucy Johnson scored three goals and Sydney Brunelle and Joey Pompeo added one apiece. In the win over the Golden Trojans, Brunelle and Johnson each had a hat trick and Caroline Rousseau and Zoey Radford added a goal apiece. The Stags (7-0) host Biddeford in a huge showdown Wednesday (see our website for game story). After going to Gorham Friday, Cheverus visits Scarborough Tuesday of next week.
Portland/Deering was 0-6 heading into a home game versus Biddeford Monday. Last week, Portland/Deering fell at Kennebunk, 4-1. Maya Zager scored the goal and Emma Walsh made 16 saves. Portland/Deering is at Sanford Wednesday and returns home next Monday to face Marshwood.
Waynflete enjoyed 2-0 home wins last week over Sacopee Valley and Wells, then fell to 4-3 Friday with a 2-1 home loss to Traip Academy. Against the Hawks, Sumeya Hussein and Ava Vander Schaaf each scored once. Vander Schaaf had both goals in the win over the Warriors. Against the Rangers, the Flyers conceded an early goal on a penalty corner, then fell behind by two in the second half before making things interesting in the fourth period, when Hussein set up Lucia Infantine for a goal. Waynflete couldn’t complete the rally, however, and its three-game win streak came to a close.
“This team is really, really tough,” said Flyers coach Rowena Schenck. “They always go out there and hustle and sometimes it doesn’t go your way, but I’m proud of them. We had opportunities I wish we put away, but we were this close and almost made a comeback.”
Waynflete goes to Wells Thursday, then faces Traip Academy again, Kittery, Monday of next week.
“(Traip’s) a good team and thankfully, we get to play them again,” said Schenck. “Hopefully, we can turn the tables. We’ll learn from this and we’ll get better. Playoffs is the goal. Last year, it was an amazing thing that we wound up in the eight seed. This year, the goal is to get an even higher playoff berth. I’m optimistic.”
Volleyball
Cheverus’ volleyball team fell to 1-6 after losses last week to visiting Greely in four games and at Scarborough in a five set thriller (16-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19, 14-16). The Stags were at Portland Tuesday, host Scarborough Thursday, then welcome York Tuesday of next week.
Deering was 2-5 after a straight set (21-25, 22-25, 22-25) home loss to Thornton Academy and a 3-0 home win over Brunswick last week. The Rams go to five-time reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Wednesday, visit South Portland Thursday, then host Sanford Tuesday of next week.
Portland lost at reigning Class A champion Gorham in straight sets, then got in the win column and improved to 1-6 with a four game home victory over Lewiston (25-16, 18-25, 25-13, 25-22). In the win, Ava Civiello had 10 aces and Millicent Keiter added five aces and two kills. The Bulldogs hosted Cheverus Tuesday, go to Bonny Eagle Saturday, then welcome Biddeford Tuesday of next week.
Cross country
Cheverus and Portland joined Gorham and Massabesic for a meet last week at Bonny Eagle.
The Bulldogs boys were first as a team and featured the top three individuals: Aran Johnson (16 minutes, 15.7 seconds), Charlie Jacques (16:36.2) and Henry Morrison (16:41.0). The Stags placed fourth as a team and were led by Cash Kellen (11th, 17:54.3).
Portland also took first in the girls’ meet, as Samantha Moore rolled to a first-place individual finish in 18:53.8. Cheverus came in second and was led by Allie Schmitt (second, 19:07.5).
Deering and Waynflete took part in a 10-team crossover Southwestern Maine Activities Association/Western Maine Conference meet at Greely.
The Flyers boys were fifth (Falmouth was first) and were paced by Pi Crosby (third, 17:36). The Rams came in seventh and were led by Asa Tussing (fifth, 18:07).
In the girls’ competition, also won by Falmouth, Waynflete finished fourth, as Paige Alexander came in third (20:08). Deering was sixth and featured Charlotte Pelletier (15th, 22:35).
Golf
The golf regular season was winding down at press time.
Cheverus improved to 4-3 with a key 7.5-5.5 win over Scarborough last week. Mick Madden led the way with a nine-hole round of 40.
Deering fell to 0-6 after a 13-0 loss to Falmouth last week. Yadier Lorola-Flores had a team-best round of 45.
Portland was 3-4 after beating South Portland (8.5-4.5) last week. Adam Paradise had a team-best round of 40.
Press Herald staff writers Steve Craig and Travis Lazarczyk contributed to this story.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net
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