(Ed. Note: For the complete Cheverus-South Portland boys’ soccer game story, please visit theforecaster.net)

Even though we were treated to a delicious taste of summer in recent days, the fall sports season is coming to a close.

Golf is in the process of determining its team and individual champs. Field hockey’s regular season expired at press time, while soccer and cross country will soon follow suit.

Here’s where things stand as we approach the middle of October:

Golf

Golf’s team championships were decided Monday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro (after The Forecaster’s deadline). Cheverus and Deering were second and third respectively behind first place Falmouth, which won the Class A title a year after capturing Class B. The Yachtsmen had a team score of 312. The Stags finished at 331 and the Rams at 332.

We’ll recap that match, in addition to the boys’ and girls’ individual championships, which are scheduled for Saturday, also at Natanis, in next week’s edition.

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Field hockey

Three local field hockey teams appeared playoff-bound at the start of the week.

In Western A, Cheverus and Portland will play on, while Deering and McAuley will likely fall short.

The Stags, the defending regional champions, downed visiting McAuley, 8-1, Thursday and edged host Kennebunk, 1-0, Friday, in a game played at the University of New England. Against the Lions, Alex Logan and Sarah LaQuerre both had two goals, while Brooke Flaherty, Julia Lambert, Ali Saxton and Staci Swallow had one apiece. Swallow had the lone goal in the win over the Rams. Cheverus takes a 12-1 mark and the No. 2 position in the Western Class A Heal Points standings (Scarborough was first) into Wednesday’s home regular season finale against No. 3 Sanford (see theforecaster.net for game story).

The Bulldogs of Portland will make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2005 and will have a winning record for the first time since 2004. They ride a five-game win streak, a seven-game unbeaten streak and took an 8-4-1 record into Wednesday’s home finale with Biddeford. Portland (seventh in the Heals) enjoyed a 3-0 home victory over Noble and a 2-1 win at Westbrook last week. Raechel Allen had two goals and Leanne Reichert one against the Knights. Kylie Dalbec, Katie Rutherford and Alex Thompson had assists. Rachel Waterhouse made three saves. Allen and Catherine Flaherty had the goals at the Blue Blazes. The Bulldogs will likely take part in a preliminary round playoff game Saturday.

McAuley was 12th in the Heals at the start of the week, but only 11 teams qualify for the postseason. The Lions lost at home to Bonny Eagle (2-0) and at Cheverus (8-1) last week to fall to 3-9-1. Lulu Hawkes had the goal against the Stags. McAuley hosts Westbrook Wednesday. An upset win could put the Lions into the playoffs.

Deering was 2-9-2 and 14th as of Monday after going 1-1 last week, falling, 8-1, at powerhouse Scarborough, then downing visiting South Portland, 2-1. Harmony Therrien and Amanda LeMoult had the goals in the victory. The Rams finish at Gorham Wednesday, but even with an upset win, would likely fall short of the postseason for the second year in a row.

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In Western C, Waynflete is once again turning heads. After posting its first winning record in three decades in 2010, the Flyers are playoff-bound this fall. Waynflete dropped a 3-2 home decision to Traip last Wednesday, but bounced back over the weekend with wins at Poland (2-0) and Freeport (4-1) to improve to 6-7.  Merilla Michael and Roz Gray-Bauer scored in the loss.

Against the Knights, Gray-Bauer and Jo Moore rattled the cage. In the win over the Falcons, Michael had a hat trick and Alida Farrell scored once. Goalie Kailina Mills made nine saves. The Flyers were sixth in the latest Heals and looked to move up when they finished the regular year at home against defending Class C state champion North Yarmouth Academy Tuesday.

Boys’ soccer

Portland’s defending regional champion boys’ soccer team made it six straight wins last Tuesday with a 1-0 home win over Marshwood (Guled Hussain-Ali had the goal). Thursday, the Bulldogs extended their unbeaten streak to 10, but settled for a 1-1 draw at Kennebunk (despite Alan Tuyishime’s goal), when the Rams scored in the final minute. Portland (8-1-2 and third behind Scarborough and Windham in the Western Class A Heals) was home against Bonny Eagle Tuesday, goes to South Portland Thursday and closes the regular year at Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

Cheverus enjoyed a 4-0 win at Thornton Academy last Tuesday as Tyler Friedman, Elliot Maker, Nick Melville and Andrew Rose scored. Two days later, the Stags welcomed South Portland in what was an entertaining and ultimately frustrating contest. Cheverus took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a corner kick as Jason Rubinoff sent the ball in and Melville headed it home. The Red Riots answered 35 seconds into the second half, but neither team would score again. The Stags had a golden opportunity in overtime, when Maker broke in free, but South Portland goalkeeper Shawn Shannon robbed him and the game ended deadlocked.

“We just couldn’t score today,” Cheverus coach Bill LeBlanc said. “I thought we had 70 percent of the play. We had more than (Maker’s) chance in overtime too. It’s frustrating. We could have easily won the game, but they could have easily won the game. I thought we played well.”

The Stags (7-2-1 and fifth in the Heals) went to Massabesic Tuesday, visit Deering Thursday and host Bonny Eagle Saturday and Gorham next Tuesday to conclude the regular season.

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“We’ll see before Gorham where we’re going to fall (in the standings),” LeBlanc said. “We’re good. The younger kids are getting better and better.”

Deering is a playoff hopeful, but needs another win or two to solidify its status. The Rams dropped a 3-0 decision at home to Kennebunk last Tuesday, then fell, 1-0, in double overtime, at Windham Thursday. Deering (4-6 and 11th in Western A, where 12 teams qualify) went to Marshwood Tuesday, play host to Cheverus Thursday, visit Biddeford Saturday and close at home with Sanford next Tuesday.

In Western C, Waynflete began the week 7-0-3 and fifth in the standings after a 2-1 victory at Traip Friday. William Cleaves and Kevin Kanakan had the goals. The Flyers had a makeup game at Gray-New Gloucester Monday and hosted Western A power Cape Elizabeth in a pivotal contest Tuesday. After going to Freeport Friday, Waynflete finishes at home with Fryeburg Monday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Waynflete has been sizzling. The Flyers lost to York in the opener, but haven’t fallen since. Last week, they extended their win streak to 10 games by downing host Sacopee Valley (4-0) and visiting Traip (3-0). Against the Hawks, Sofia Canning, Sadie Cole, Rhiannan Jackson and Becky Smith all scored. Waynflete (a close third behind Dirigo and Madison in the Western C Heals) had a big test at Western A power Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, plays its home finale Saturday versus Gray-New Gloucester, then finishes the regular season at Fryeburg Monday.

In Western A, Cheverus continues to set the pace. The Stags tied host Sanford, 2-2, last Monday, then fell from the unbeaten ranks Wednesday at Thornton Academy, 3-1. In the draw, Sade Lyons and Abby Maker scored. Lyons had the goal against the Golden Trojans as well. Cheverus (7-1-2 and seventh in the Heals) hosts Massabesic Wednesday, goes to Deering Friday, welcomes Kennebunk Saturday and closes with a showdown at nemesis Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Deering played host Kennebunk to a 1-1 tie and lost at home to Windham, 3-1, last week to fall to 5-5-1 (and 12th in the Heals). Against the Rams, Alexis Sivovlos scored (from Cole Spike). Spike set up Meaghan Wells for the goal against the Eagles. The Rams were home with Marshwood Tuesday, host Cheverus Friday and close at Sanford Tuesday of next week.

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McAuley began the week 1-8-2 and 15th in the Heals (13 teams qualify for the playoffs). The Lions sandwiched losses to Kennebunk (3-1) and Scarborough (6-0) around a 1-1 tie at Portland last week. Against the Rams, Ayla Tartre had the goal. Olivia Crozier struck against the Bulldogs. McAuley was home with Biddeford Tuesday, welcomes Gorham in the home finale Thursday and closes at Westbrook Saturday. If the Lions can get some Heal Points against Gorham, they might still make the postseason.

Portland got its first positive result of the season last Wednesday at McAuley, when Ashley Frank’s goal helped lead to a 1-1 tie. The Bulldogs fell to 0-11-1 (18th in the standings) Friday with a 2-1 home loss to Kennebunk. Frank also scored in that game. Portland hosts South Portland Saturday and closes at Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

Cross country

Waynflete’s cross country teams took part in their final regular season meet Friday, at Greely (along with Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth and Yarmouth). The boys came in third, the girls fifth. Individually, Abshir Horor was fourth among the boys, completing the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes, 34 seconds. On the girls’ side, Martha Veroneau was runner-up (20:50). The Flyers travel to Falmouth Friday afternoon to compete in the Western Maine Conference championship meet.

Cheverus’ juggernaut hosted Scarborough and Thornton Academy Friday. The girls (ranked first in the coaches’ poll) won their meet as Kiera Murray (19:43) came in first, Shannon Conley (19:44) was second, Fiona Hendry (19:45) placed third and Emily Durgin (19:46) was fourth. The boys came in second to the Red Storm. The top individual was Brady Foshay (fifth, 17:28).

Deering joined Noble at Gorham last weekend. The Rams boys (ranked ninth by the coaches) were first, as Tom Dean (17:11), Sean Perry (17:50) and Gabe Turner (18:03) finished 1-2-3. The girls were second by a point to Gorham, but Ella Ramonas was the individual champion (20:24).

McAuley hosted Massabesic and Westbrook, and came in second behind the Mustangs. Taxia Arabatzis was the fastest individual (sixth, 21:22). Adele Warren was right behind in seventh (21:49).

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Portland joined Sanford and Windham at Kennebunk. The Bulldogs came in second on the girls’ side as Abby Popenoe was 12th, 21:51). The boys finished fourth and were paced by Ben Allen (third, 16:09).

Friday, Cheverus, Deering and Portland, along with South Portland, compete in the season-ending city meet, at McAuley.

The regional championships are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22, at Twin Brook in Cumberland. The state championships are Saturday, Sept. 29, also at Twin Brook.

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

Sidebar Elements


Cheverus senior Nick Melville plays the ball away from a South Portland defender during the teams’ 1-1 tie last week.

Waynflete’s Hanae Miyake leads a pack of runners during last week’s meet at Greely. Miyake came in 27th with a time of 23 minutes, 46 seconds.


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