Yarmouth’s Remi Leblanc breaks free during the Clippers’ 41-0 home loss to Spruce Mountain Friday.

Greely’s Eric Kinkead goes up for a header during the Rangers’ 1-0 home win over Gray-New Gloucester Monday night.

Falmouth’s girls’ soccer team celebrates Amelia Waite’s goal in the final minute of Saturday’s 2-1 win at Cape Elizabeth.

North Yarmouth Academy’s Megan Alberding takes part in last weekend’s regular season-ending six-team cross country meet at Greely. Alberding had the ninth-fastest individual time.

Championships have already been handed out, but there’s still ample time remaining in the fall sports season for local athletes to make memories.

Golf is halfway through crowning its finest and while football still has a couple weeks to go, the cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball regular seasons are coming to a close.

Here’s a glimpse:

Golf

Falmouth, Greely and Yarmouth all qualified for Saturday’s golf team state championships at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

In Class A, the Yachtsmen shot a team score of 322 to finish third, five strokes behind Gorham (which won the title on a tiebreaker) and Mt. Ararat. Greely (327) finished fourth.

Falmouth was paced by Dex Dremann and Reed Lonsdale, who both shot an 18-hole round of 79. Charlie Emple and Riley Lonsdale each shot an 82. Matt Adamowicz’s 86 wasn’t factored into the team’s score.

Greely was led by Tate Porter (81) and Rachel Smith (81). Also scoring were Erin Holmes (82) and Joe Piwowarski (83). Ryan Megathlin’s 85 wasn’t factored into the team’s score.

In Class B, Yarmouth shot a team score of 333 and finished 16 strokes behind champion Erskine Academy. Ethan Haag led the way with a 79. Joe Coyne (83), Nate Dealaman (85) and Mac Leahy (86) also scored. Tommy Fallon’s 91 wasn’t factored in.

Greely’s Porter (77 at last week’s SMAA qualifying meet) and Falmouth’s Adamowicz (81) and Reed Lonsdale (81) qualified for the state individual meet, also held at Natanis, this coming Saturday.

Football

Falmouth and Greely’s football teams remain red-hot in Class B South.

The Yachtsmen won their third game in a row Friday night, holding off host Morse, 25-8, to improve to 5-1. A 22-yard touchdown pass from Jack Bryant to Brock Welch put Falmouth ahead to stay in the first quarter. Bryant ran for a 10 yard score in the second period and the Yachtsmen led, 13-0, at halftime. A 41 yard Bryant to Garret Aube scoring pass was countered by a Shipbuilders touchdown and two-point conversion, but in the fourth period, Aube broke a 55 yard TD run and Falmouth improved to 5-1.

Aube ran for 91 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Brandon Martin gained 94 yards on seven attempts. Bryant finished 11-of-21 passing for 116 yards and two scores.

The Yachtsmen (third behind Biddeford and Kennebunk in the Class B South Crabtree Points standings) host two-time defending state champion Marshwood (3-3) Friday night (see theforecaster.net for game story). Last year, Falmouth won one of the biggest games in program history, rallying to shock the host Hawks, 22-20, in overtime, in the regular season, but Marshwood won the regional final, 48-22, at Falmouth.

Greely captured its fourth game in a row Friday, winning in Turner for the second year in a row, 38-20, at Leavitt. Joey Casella scored on a 6-yard run to give the Rangers an early 8-0 lead. Greely’s defense helped out the offense early. Nolan Anderson picked off a pass and Anderson finished off a three-play drive with a 20-yard pass from Nick Gauvin. Casella ran in the two-point conversion for a 16-0 lead. Leavitt got on the board on its first drive of the second quarter, but Gauvin hit DeWolfe for a 47-yard touchdown pass and a 22-6 halftime lead. Casella finished the game off with touchdown runs of 9 and 49 yards in the fourth quarter.

Greely rang up 226 yards on the ground, 150 from Casella.

“I’d like to have like 12 more of him,” Rangers coach David Higgins said. “Joey’s done a great job.”

Paul Buchanan had a pair of sacks. Besides the two QB takedowns, the 6-foot-4 senior also knocked down multiple passes at the line and stopped Leavitt on a two-point conversion run.

“He’s huge for us,” Higgins said. “He leads by example. He’s always working his backside off all the time, and the kids look up to him. Whenever we need a big play, he makes it.”

The Rangers (now fourth in Class B South) welcome 2-4 Mt. Ararat in their home finale Friday. Last year, Greely won, 20-7, in Topsham, but after the fact, it was learned Greely used an ineligible player and had to forfeit. 

The Rangers are at Falmouth in the “Battle of Route 9” regular season finale Oct. 21.

In Class C South, defending regional champion Yarmouth dropped its third successive game Friday, falling at home to Spruce Mountain, 43-0. The Clippers fell behind, 14-0, after one quarter and 34-0 at halftime and despite some promising drives, couldn’t find the end zone.

“We’re such a young team,” said Yarmouth coach Jason Veilleux. “We’re still figuring out who we ware. We need hard losses to learn. Our kids were in the right positions to make plays, but we couldn’t block or tackle. If you can’t block or tackle, you can’t win. We miss having someone step up and put us on their shoulders.”

The Clippers (3-3 and fifth in Class C South) are at 6-0 Cape Elizabeth Friday. Last year, host Yarmouth rallied for a thrilling 37-36 home victory over the Capers.

Freeport fell to 2-4 Saturday after losing at home, 42-7, to Mountain Valley. Max Doughty had the Falcons’ lone touchdown.

The Falcons (seventh in Class C South) welcome 1-5 Lake Region in the home finale Saturday. Last year, Freeport lost, 25-7, at the Lakers.

Boys’ soccer 

North Yarmouth Academy’s boys’ soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to seven last week after a 1-0 home win over rival Waynflete and a 2-2 draw at Sacopee Valley. In the win, Xander Bartone scored just after halftime and Jeremy Thelven and the Panthers’ defense held the Flyers at bay as they swept Waynflete for the first time since 2013.

“At halftime, we talked about possessing the ball, bringing it down and playing our game,” Bartone said. “We panicked a little bit in the first half. We calmed down a lot more in the second half.”

“They got a lot more pressure at the end and I knew we had to step it up,” Thelven said. “Everyone stepped up, even our younger guys.” 

“It’s such an important game,” added first-year NYA coach Stuart Thorley. “Not just for the standings, but for the rivalry and for the school.”

Against the Hawks, Bartone and Ryan Baker scored.

The Panthers (8-3-1 and fourth in the Class C South Heal Points standings at press time) play at St. Dom’s Thursday, then have a big regular season finale showdown at home against Greely Saturday.

In Class A South, Falmouth extended its win streak to four with a 1-0 victory at Fryeburg Academy last Tuesday, then dropped to 8-2-1 and second behind Gorham in the standings after a 1-0 home loss to Cape Elizabeth Friday. Michael Sanzari scored against the Raiders. The Yachtsmen go to Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, host Kennebunk Saturday and finish at home against York Tuesday.

Two-time defending state champion Yarmouth began the week first in Class B South at 9-2 after extending its win streak to five with victories over visiting Gray-New Gloucester (2-0) and host Wells (7-1). Against the Patriots, Gibson Harnett headed home a rebound of a Tahj Garvey blast which hit the post in the first half and Max Coury scored a second half goal.

“We expected them to pack it in,” Harnett said. “They had eight players in the box every time we got in there and they didn’t want to give up a shot. We knew they’d be a tough, athletic opponent.”

“It’s really fun to play with this team,” Coury said. “We have great team chemistry. I think there’s still another level of play we can reach and I think everyone expects that out of us and once that happens, it’ll be great.”

“This was an important Heal Points win for us and an important lesson in patience,” added Clippers coach Mike Hagerty. 

Eric LaBrie had three goals, Bill Jacobs two and Coury and John Clinton one apiece in the win over the Warriors. Yarmouth welcomes Freeport Thursday, goes to York Saturday and closes at home against Greely Tuesday.

Greely has won three straight and evened its record at 6-6 after downing host Kennebunk (3-0) and visiting Poland (9-0) and Gray-New Gloucester (1-0). Will Pidgeon had two goals and Alvaro Obregon had the other goal versus the Rams. In the win over the Knights, Hunter Graham and Lucca Pfruender both had two goals. Against the Patriots, after failing to convert a penalty kick in the first half, Pidgeon scored with just over 11 minutes to play.

“We just have to stay positive,” said Pidgeon. “No matter how many chances we have, we have to keep working.”

“We traditionally play better in the second half of the season than the first,” said longtime Rangers coach Mike Andreasen. “As long as we can defend, we can play with anybody. It’s a more defensive league this year.”

The Rangers (sixth in Class B South) go to NYA Saturday and close at Yarmouth Tuesday.

Freeport enjoyed a 7-0 win at Poland, then suffered an agonizing 3-2 double overtime home loss to York last week in the first home game the program has ever played under the lights. Ryan Rosado and Josh Spaulding had goals against the Wildcats, but they surrendered the winner just before time expired in OT. The Falcons (6-5-1 and eighth in the region) were at Cape Elizabeth in a playoff rematch Tuesday and close at Yarmouth Thursday.

Girls’ soccer

Yarmouth’s girls’ soccer team was still undefeated as the week began. Last week, the Clippers blanked host Gray-New Gloucester (4-0) and visiting Wells (8-0). Katie Clemmer scored three times versus the Patriots, while Sara D’Appolonia also tickled the twine. In the win over the Warriors, Hannah Merrill had three goals, Adriana Whitlock scored twice and Olivia Feeley, Audrey Goessling and Abi Hincks had one goal apiece. Yarmouth (11-0-1 and first in the Class B South Heal Points standings at press time) goes to York Thursday, looking to avenge its lone blemish to date, then closes at home against Greely Tuesday.

Defending Class B champion Greely blanked visiting Kennebunk, 3-0, last Tuesday, won, 3-1, at Poland Saturday and downed host Gray-New Gloucester, 2-0, Monday to improve to 10-3.  Ellie Schad scored twice and Anna DeWolfe had a goal in the victory over the Rams. Against the Knights, Kat Clancy, Katie Steinberg and Courtney Sullivan had goals. In the win over the Patriots, DeWolfe and Schad scored again. The Rangers (second in Class B South) close at Yarmouth Tuesday.

Freeport beat visiting Poland, 4-0, lost, 5-0, at York and settled for a scoreless draw against Sacopee Valley in its first ever home game under the lights last week. The Falcons (6-4-2 and ninth in Class B South) hosted Cape Elizabeth Tuesday and close at home versus Lake Region Thursday.

In Class A South, Falmouth extended its win streak to four after downing visiting Fryeburg Academy (2-0) and host Cape Elizabeth (2-1). Against the Capers, Amelia Waite scored twice, including the winner with 40.6 seconds to go. Madison Wolf assisted on both goals.

“The ball was in the air and Madison touched it to me,” Waite said, of the winner. “I got past my defender and one-timed it in. I hadn’t looked at the clock. When I got up and saw there were 40 seconds left, I felt relief.”

“We got lucky,” Falmouth coach Andrew Pelletier said. “It’s a good win emotionally, but we have to play better to reach our goals.”

The Yachtsmen (7-4 and sixth in the Heals) host Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, visit Kennebunk Saturday and close at York Tuesday.

Field hockey 

Field hockey’s regular season has come to an end and all five local teams have qualified for the playoffs.

Falmouth finished 12-2 after Thursday’s 6-0 home win over Cape Elizabeth. Kate Kelley had a hat trick, while Sydney Bell, Mary Budri and Devon Sarazin also scored. The Yachtsmen were ranked first in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time, but could be leapfrogged before the rankings are final.

In Class B South, Yarmouth will likely be the number three seed behind two-time defending state champion York and Kennebunk. Last Wednesday, the Clippers held off visiting Kennebunk, 2-1, as Ally MacLeod and Sophie McGrath scored goals and Yarmouth held on for dear life late. 

“It’s so exciting to finally be able to get a big win,” McGrath said. “Especially after losing to them in overtime.”

“It was tough to hold them off, but we kept up our momentum,” said senior defensive standout and captain Taylor Robison. “We really wanted this win. This means the world to us. We’ve had some close games. We had to learn how to finish and today we did that.”

“This is huge for confidence,” Yarmouth coach Amy Ashley added. “We’ve had some tough losses, but today we finished strong.”

The Clippers finished the regular season at Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday.

Freeport sandwiched wins over visiting Cape Elizabeth (2-1) and host Greely (3-2) around a 2-0 setback at Fryeburg Academy last week to wind up 6-7-1. Natalie Anderson and Bailey Coffin both scored against the Capers. In the win over the Rangers, Kerry Lefebvre had two goals and Maya Bradbury had the other goal. The Falcons will be the number eight seed in Class B South and will host a preliminary round playoff game Saturday, likely against Cape Elizabeth.

Greely wound up 5-9 after losing, 6-1, at York, 3-2 at home to Freeport and 1-0 at home to Cape Elizabeth. Lizzie Brown scored just the seventh goal the Wildcats have surrendered this fall. Wren Payne and Maddy Perfetti scored in the loss to the Falcons. Against the Capers, the Rangers had a 9-3 edge in shots, but couldn’t finish.

“We didn’t capitalize on the few chances we had,” Greely coach Becki Belmore lamented. “Scoring goals has been an issue. We matched up nicely. We needed to put it in early and not wait until the end. I think we’re a better team than our record, but it comes down to winning games. 

The Rangers (who earned the 10th and final playoff spot in Class B South) will be on the road in the preliminary round Saturday, likely at Poland.

In Class C South, NYA snapped a three-game skid with a 9-0 home win over the Maine Girls’ Academy/Waynflete co-op team last Tuesday. Amber Rose scored four times and Kiersten Marr had two goals. Emily Biesel-Bolen, Caroline Gepfert and Katie Larson each rattled the cage once. Thursday, the Panthers won, 1-0, at Wells, as Larson had the lone goal. NYA (7-4-2 and fifth in the Heals) closed at Traip Academy Tuesday.

Volleyball

While Yarmouth volleyball coach Jim Senecal stole the headlines last week (see story), Greely remained undefeated.

The Rangers swept host Gorham (25-18, 25-9, 25-19) and visiting Thornton Academy last week to improve to 12-0 and first in the Class A Heal Points standings. Greely, which hasn’t lost a set this fall, goes to Bonny Eagle Thursday and closes the regular season at home versus Portland Tuesday.

Yarmouth blanked visiting South Portland (25-11, 25-9, 25-14) and won in four sets at Cape Elizabeth (25-10, 25-14, 23-25, 25-12) last week to improve to 9-2 and seventh in Class A. Against the Red Riots, Rachel Chillé finished with 18 service points, including seven aces, and eight kills, Alison Clark added 13 kills and Dominique Moran had 17 assists. Andrea St. Pierre finished with 11 service points, including four aces.

“Our communication was really on tonight,” said Chillé. “Our setters changed the whole game for us.”

“We had to focus tonight,” Senecal said. “We knew South Portland was a strong team. We had to take them out of their system and we did that with our serving. We stayed aggressive. We didn’t give a lot of free balls back to them.”

In the win over the Capers, Clark produced 22 kills, Moran had 33 assists. Chillé finished with 10 service points and six kills. Sydney St. Pierre finished with 16 service points, including five aces, and Andrea St. Pierre had 12 service points, including five aces.

“We had to come out strong, serve our hardest and be as aggressive as we could,” Andrea St. Pierre said.

“We’re meshing a lot better now than at the beginning of the year,” Clark said. “We’ve gotten so much better.”

Yarmouth hosted Falmouth in a pivotal showdown Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for match story), hosts first-year varsity program Brunswick on Senior Night Thursday, then closes the regular season at Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth entered its match at Yarmouth Tuesday at 9-3 and fifth in Class A. The Yachtsmen blanked visiting Bonny Eagle and Cony last week. Falmouth closes at South Portland Tuesday of next week.

In Class B, NYA moved up to second behind Calais at 11-2 after going 2-1 Down East last weekend, beating Jonseport-Beals in four sets and edging Machias in five games before losing in four sets at Washington Academy. The Panthers close with a home match versus Cheverus Thursday.

Cross country

The Western Maine Conference cross country regular season came to a close last weekend.

Greely hosted Falmouth, Freeport, NYA, Gray-New Gloucester and Waynflete.

The Rangers won the girls’ race, while the Yachtsmen were second and Falcons placed fourth. The Panthers didn’t score as a team. Individually, Greely’s Katherine Leggat-Barr (19 minutes, 45 seconds) and Carolyn Todd (19:56) had the top two times. Falmouth was led by Hannah Berzinis (sixth, 22:03). Freeport’s top finisher was Lily Horne (third, 20:25). NYA’s Megan Alberding had the ninth-best time (22:22).

In the boys’ meet, the Rangers finished first, the Falcons were second, the Yachtsmen came in third and the Panthers were sixth. Freeport had the top individual in Henry Jaques (16:53). Falmouth’s Conner Piers was second (17:26_. Max Stickney (fourth, 17:44) paced Greely. NYA’s Brennan Flatt finished 17th (18:55).

The WMC Championship meet is Friday at St. Joseph’s College.

Sun Journal staff writer Wil Kramlich contributed to this story.

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

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