(Ed. Note: To read the full Cheverus-Scarborough game story, with additional photos, please visit theforecaster.net)

The field hockey regular season has come to an end and the Cheverus Stags are once again in the hunt for a championship as the only city Class A team to advance.

The Stags entered Tuesday’s home finale versus Thornton Academy with a 10-3 mark. They’ll likely be second or third in the final Heal Points standings and will almost certainly host at least one playoff game.

Last week, Cheverus won, 1-0, at McAuley, got drubbed, 6-1, at Scarborough, then held off visiting Portland, 3-1.

Against the Lions, sophomore Brooke Flaherty had the winner. In the loss, senior Emily Sawchuck gave the Stags an early lead with a patented penalty corner goal, but the Red Storm bounced right back and scored three times before the half, including a back-breaking tally in the final minute. Scarborough added three more second half goals and rolled.

“We’re young,” Cheverus coach Amy McMullin said. “This isn’t the team I thought would show up today. We’ll regather our thoughts. We won’t give up. We’ll show if we’re mentally tough or not.”

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In the win over the Bulldogs, sophomore Emily Rodrigue scored twice and Sawchuck added a goal as the Stags erased an early 1-0 deficit.

Portland made great strides this fall, but it wasn’t enough to get the Bulldogs into the playoffs. After enjoying a 5-1 home win over Biddeford last Monday (junior Effie Drew scored twice), Portland lost, 1-0, at home to Gorham (despite eight saves from junior Kathleen Dalbec), 3-1 at Cheverus (sophomore Leanne Reichert scored and Dalbec made 16 saves) and 3-2 at Sanford (despite goals from Reichert and Ellen Taffere) to fall to 5-8.

The Bulldogs closed at Marshwood Tuesday.

McAuley won twice more than it did a year ago. The Lions finished 3-11 after losses to Cheverus (1-0), Gorham (2-0) and Marshwood (2-1) last week.

Deering went to South Portland Tuesday hoping to avoid a winless season. The Rams fell, 2-1, at home to Massabesic, tied host Noble (1-1), then lost, 6-1, at home to Sanford, to drop to 0-12-1 on the year. Senior Olivia Lourie had the goal against the Mustangs. Senior Lily Hampton forced the tie against the Knights and also scored in the loss to the Redskins. Junior goalie Caley Presby stopped 16 shots against Massabesic, 10 in the tie and 15 against Sanford.

In Western C, Waynflete, which has already posted its first winning record in three decades, was in a fight-to-the-finish with Jay for the sixth and last playoff spot. The Flyers were looking to make it to the postseason in a non-open tournament year for the first time since 1978.

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Last week, Waynflete beat host Old Orchard Beach (3-0) and Poland (6-1) before losing, 5-1, at home to powerhouse and defending regional champion North Yarmouth Academy. Sophomore Nyanen Deng, junior Alida Farell and senior Lindsey Sinicki scored against the Seagulls and Farrell had three goals and freshman Meredith Nelligan two in the win over the Knights. Monday, the Flyers closed at 8-5-1 after a 2-0 victory at Traip.

Schedule

The quarterfinals are Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The semifinals will be played Saturday, Oct. 23. Games in both rounds will be hosted by the higher rated teams. The regional finals are Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Scarborough. This year’s state finals for all classes will be Saturday, Oct. 30, at the University of Maine in Orono.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

Senior standout Emily Sawchuck and her Cheverus teammates have high hopes as the playoffs near.

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Cheverus forward Emily Sawchuck breaks down the field with the ball as Scarborough defender Shauni Cowan tries to track her down. Sawchuck opened the scoring with a penalty corner goal, but it wasn’t nearly enough.


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