The fall sports season has reached the point where athletes aren’t just dreaming of winning championships, they’re vying for them, as last weekend, three teams won titles, as golf held its state finals.
While no city teams brought home the hardware, one almost did, and that set the tone for what promises to be a memorable stretch run of action as the soccer, field hockey and volleyball regular seasons come to a close early next week, cross country’s biggest meets are right around the corner and football’s regular season is ticking down as well.
There’s a lot to absorb, so here’s a look back to a dramatic week and a look at what’s still to come:
Golf
Cheverus’ golf team came in second at Friday’s Class A state match, the Stags’ best finish in seven years. The team is coached by Billy Goodman, far left, and includes (from left) Aaron Goodman, Liam Cloutier, Mick Madden, Joe Mancini, Andrew Reilly, Mathew Paradis and Christina Lapoint. Junior varsity coach Cam Ray is also pictured.
Cheverus’ golf team finished seventh at the 2023 Class A state match and this year, almost had no peer.
The Stags, who went 7-3 in the regular season before placing fifth at last Monday’s Southwestern Maine Activities Association qualifier, saved their best for last on a blustery day Friday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, shooting a team score of 323, leaving them six strokes shy of champion Scarborough.
Cheverus was paced by Mick Madden, who tied for third place individually with an 18-hole score of 75. Mathew Paradis shot a 76 and came in fifth. Liam Cloutier shot an 84 and Aaron Goodman, on his 18th birthday, finished with a score of 88. Joe Mancini and Andrew Reilly each shot a 91, but their scores weren’t factored in.
Christina Lapoint had a score of 95 and was ninth in the girls’ field.
Cheverus, which won its lone championship back in 2005, enjoyed its best finish at states since the 2017 squad also was runner-up.
“I’m so proud of my team,” said Stags coach Billy Goodman. “No one expected anything from us and to finish second is amazing. We came a long way. We’ve shot well against the wind all season. It was just a great day all around.”
Portland, meanwhile, qualified for states for the first time since 2017 after coming in fourth at the SMAA qualifier. The Bulldogs, who were just 3-7 in the regular season, then came in ninth at states with a team score of 359, 42 strokes off the pace, as Adam Paradise led the way by shooting an 84. Also scoring were Lucas Milliken (89), Jacob Johnson (90) and Sevino Moran (96). Cole Christensen (103) and Simon Pillsbury (118) also took part but didn’t have their scores factored in.
Deering did not qualify for states.
Football
The Portland and Thornton Academy football teams met in the Class A state final a year ago and will do battle again Saturday in Saco in the most anticipated game of the season to date. Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald file photo.
On the gridiron, Portland improved to 5-1 after a 35-7 win at Bangor last Friday. The Bulldogs shot to a 14-0 lead after one quarter, as Cordell Jones scored on rushes of 1-yard and 9-yards. After the Rams got on the scoreboard, a 41-yard TD pass from Louis Thurston to Jones made it 21-7 at the half. Portland then got a 48-yard touchdown scamper from Thurston in the third period and a 1-yard Aidan McGowan touchdown run in the fourth to account for the final score.
The Bulldogs, who have won three straight games and are ranked first in the Class A North Crabtree Points standings, have a stern test Saturday, when they go to 5-1 Thornton Academy, widely considered the state’s best team (see our website for game story). A year ago, Portland beat the host Golden Trojans, 35-28, in the season opener, but in the Class A state final, Thornton Academy prevailed, 24-14.
Deering, which suffered its first loss in week five at Kennebunk, got back in the win column last Friday with a 35-13 home win over Westbrook to improve to 5-1. The Rams shot to a 21-0 lead after one quarter, as quarterback Tavian Lauture scored on a 10-yard run just 59 seconds into the game after a Joey Foley 66-yard run set it up, Lauture hit Corbin Burke for a 3-yard score, then he connected with Elijah Stewart from 19-yards out. Foley’s 85-yard TD scamper then made it 27-0 at halftime. The Blue Blazes got on the board in the third period, but Deering put it away in the fourth on a 2-yard Foley rush. Foley finished with 191 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries.
The Rams (second in Class B South) welcome Gorham (2-4) Friday night. Last year, Gorham won at Deering, 20-0.
Cheverus hung tough early at powerhouse Kennebunk, but eventually lost, 42-10, to drop to 2-4 on the year. The Stags got a 29-yard field goal from Devin Kelly to take a 3-0 lead after one quarter, then went on top 10-7 after Matt Baker’s 3-yard TD scamper, but the Rams scored the final 35 points.
Cheverus (fifth in Class B South) is at 3-3 Marshwood Friday night. The teams didn’t play a year ago.
Field hockey
Cheverus standout Lucy Johnson now has 23 goals on the season and 141 in her career for the undefeated, reigning state champion Stags. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald file photo.
Cheverus’ field hockey team extended its overall win streak to 30 games and its regular season streak to 58 following wins last week at Scarborough (3-0) and at home over Noble (7-0) and Massabesic (5-0). Senior standout Lucy Johnson scored all three goals against the Red Storm. In the win over the Knights, Jaylee Radford had two goals and Johnson, Gabrielle Blais, Anna Kennedy-Jensen, Mary McCartney and Zoey Radford added one apiece. Against the Mustangs, Johnson scored two more goals, giving her 23 for the season and a state record 141 for her career, while Sydney Brunelle, Joey Pompeo and Zoey Radford all scored once.
The Stags (who have the top spot in the Class A South Heal Points standings locked up) play at Windham Wednesday and close with a home game versus Portland/Deering Friday as they seek a fourth consecutive undefeated regular campaign.
Portland/Deering fell to 0-10 and 14th in Class A South (where just 10 teams make the playoffs) after home losses to Marshwood (2-0) and Thornton Academy (5-0). Emma Walsh made a whopping 55 saves against the Golden Trojans.
Portland/Deering was home with Bonny Eagle Monday, hosts South Portland/Westbrook Wednesday, goes to Cheverus Friday, then closes at Gorham Monday of next week.
In Class C South, Waynflete improved to 6-3 and fifth following a 1-0 home win over Telstar last week. Sumeya Hussein scored twice and Thalia Bikamba and Maisie Robinson rattled the cage once apiece.
The Flyers were at Traip Academy Monday and at Sacopee Valley Tuesday, then close the regular season at Mt. View Saturday.
Boys’ soccer
Portland’s Isaac Rodrigues-Nkanza plays the ball during last week’s loss at Windham. Hoffer photos.
On the pitch, Portland’s boys’ soccer team was 8-2-1 and fourth in the Class A South Heals following a 5-0 victory at Cheverus and a 2-1 loss at Windham. In the win, David Mawangu, Baptista Muanda, Isaac Pedro, Isaac Rodrigues-Nkanza and Osvaldo Silva all scored once. In the setback, which was a playoff rematch, Ronan Mas scored off a free kick with 40 seconds left in the first half to tie the score, but the Eagles went back in front in the second half and the Bulldogs couldn’t counter.
“Everyone gave everything they had and we did some good things,” longtime Portland coach Rocco Frenzilli said. “I’m proud of how the kids handled themselves. It’s a tough environment up here. It was a tournament atmosphere. I told them after the game, this is what the next few weeks of the season will be like with all these teams having a chance. Credit to (Windham) for getting their two and holding us to our one. It’s a tough one.”
The Bulldogs were home versus Marshwood Monday, host Noble Friday, then close at rival Deering Monday of next week.
“We have three big games left, then we’ll see how it shakes out tournament-wise,” said Frenzilli. “As tough as this was, I think it was good for us because we know we have to play like this, if not better than this, all the way through because this tournament this year will be so balanced that games like this will, I think, be the norm.”
Deering was 7-4-1 and sixth in Class A South following a 3-2 win at Marshwood and a 2-0 home loss to Scarborough last week. In the victory, Augusto Daniel scored twice and Alberto Lucas-Bayata scored the other goal.
The Rams had a showdown at Gorham Tuesday (see our website for game story), then close at home versus Portland Monday of next week.
Cheverus was 5-7 heading into a home battle versus Windham Tuesday. Last week, the Stags sandwiched wins at Massabesic (6-0) and Marshwood (1-0) around a 5-0 home loss to Portland. Henry Huntley scored the goal in the victory over the Hawks.
Cheverus (ranked 12th in Class A South, where 12 teams make the playoffs) closes at Scarborough in a key showdown Saturday.
In Class C South, Waynflete was 4-5-1 and fifth following a 2-1 overtime home loss to Traip Academy and a 1-1 tie at Freeport. Against the Rangers, George Shattuck had the goal. In the draw, Lucas Plumb found the net.
The Flyers were at Traip Academy Tuesday, visit Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, welcome Sacopee Valley Friday, then close at home versus rival North Yarmouth Academy Tuesday of next week.
Girls’ soccer
Waynflete’s Naomi Rice fights for possession during last week’s home loss to Freeport. Hoffer photo.
On the girls’ side, Cheverus suffered its first setback last week, 3-1, at Windham, then bounced back to down visiting Bonny Eagle (4-1) to improve to 8-1-2 and fifth in Class A South. In the loss, Jill Foley scored early to give the Stags the lead, but they couldn’t hold it.
“We gave them way too much respect and space between our backs and our mids,” said Cheverus coach Craig Roberts. “We have good, quick, aggressive players and we didn’t deny their turns, then they ran at us and got into our final third too easily and that’s not sustainable. You have to expect a push from a top team. The more big games we can play coming down the stretch, composure will come. I’m not sure it was where it needed to be tonight. Organization of the backs and denying the ball are correctable things. Hopefully by playoffs, there will be little that needs correcting.”
In the victory, Finley Brown, Alaina Holmes, Sophia Monfa and Annie Vigue all scored once.
The Stags faced a key test at Thornton Academy Monday, welcome Gorham in a makeup game Wednesday (see our website for game story), then close with a home game versus South Portland Tuesday of next week.
Deering improved to 4-6-2 and 12th in Class A South (where 12 teams qualify for playoffs) after wins last week at Westbrook (5-2) and at home over rival Portland (1-0, in overtime). Elsa Freeman scored three times in the victory over the Blue Blazes, while Mya Landry and Vesta McCarroll-Christmas also found the net. Freeman then had the game-winner against the Bulldogs.
The Rams welcome Gorham Thursday then go to Noble Saturday in the finale.
Portland enjoyed its first victory, 3-0 over visiting Massabesic, then fell to 1-11 and 15th in Class A South following losses at Deering (1-0, in overtime) and at home to Bonny Eagle (3-0). In the win, Anneliese Collin had two goals and Baleria Yugu scored the other.
The Bulldogs were at Windham Monday, then close at home versus Noble Thursday.
Defending state champion Waynflete was 4-6-1 and fifth in Class C South after a 3-0 home loss to Freeport, a 2-1 overtime win over visiting Fryeburg Academy and a 2-0 setback at Traip Academy. Against the Falcons, the Flyers only mustered three shots on goal.
“(Freeport) took advantage of their opportunities,” said Waynflete first-year coach Jesse McDonough. “It was hard for us to get the ball out of our half. We have some injuries. It would be great to face them fully healthy because I think we could play with them, but they were the better team today.”
In the victory, Liza Lawson scored early, then Fallon Culley produced the winner in overtime. Rachel Yordon made five saves against the Rangers.
The Flyers were home versus Traip Academy Tuesday, go to Sacopee Valley Thursday, then close at rival NYA Tuesday of next week.
“We’re trying to keep everybody’s spirits up,” said McDonough. “We hope to get some players back and I think it will make us stronger. Our younger players have gotten good experience and we needed some depth. That will be helpful for us in the playoffs. We’re fully expecting to have a playoff run.”
Volleyball
Cheverus’ volleyball team was 3-7 and ninth in Class A following five set losses last week at home to York and at Falmouth (25-16, 28-26, 15-25, 22-25, 12-15).
The Stags were at South Portland Tuesday, host Kennebunk Thursday, then close at reigning Class A champion Gorham Tuesday of next week.
Deering was 3-7 and 10th in Class A (where 12 teams qualify for the playoffs) after a 3-0 home win over Sanford last week.
The Rams were at Westbrook Tuesday, host Falmouth Thursday and York Saturday, then close at Portland Tuesday of next week.
Portland fell to 1-10 and 16th in Class A following a 3-0 home loss to powerhouse Biddeford last week.
The Bulldogs were at Massabesic Tuesday, host Thornton Academy Thursday, then close at home versus Deering next Tuesday.
Cross country
Cheverus, Deering and Portland’s cross country teams joined South Portland and Westbrook at a meet at Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook last week.
The Bulldogs boys finished first, as Aran Johnson was first individually in 17 minutes, 2 seconds. The Rams were third and were led by Ellis Wood (second, 17:06). The Stags top finisher was Arman Gurcan (16th, 18:38).
The girls’ competition was won by Portland, as Samantha Moore was first individually in 19:46. Cheverus was second as a team and featured individual runner-up Allie Schmitt (20:16). Deering placed third and was led by Charlotte Pelletier (seventh, 22:06).
Waynflete joined Greely and Poland for a meet at York. The Flyers boys and girls each finished fourth, while the Wildcats finished first in both races. Pi Crosby was the individual runner-up in the boys’ competition (17:46). Waynflete’s girls were led by Hana Hirschkorn (third, 22:40).
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
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