(Ed. Note: For the complete Scarborough-Deering boys’ soccer and Scarborough-Massabesic and South Portland-Marshwood field hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

While it still (thankfully) feels like summer, the boys and girls of autumn are underway.

Most local teams have played at least one game and early indications are that it will be another season to remember.

While football’s opening weekend got plenty of attention (see story), there have already been some thrills in soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and golf as well.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

Longtime powerhouse Scarborough won its 14th straight season opener Monday, 4-0, at Deering. On a sizzling day, the Red Storm broke through in the 24th minute, when a pinpoint throw-in from the sideline from Matt Caron eluded the grasp of Deering’s goalkeeper and Garrett King banged home the loose ball for the only goal they would need. Scarborough put the game away in the second half, as less than four minutes in, Noah Stracqualursi scored on a header, King scored on a rebound with just over 20 minutes to play and with 7:27 left, a header from Alex Giles proved to be the coup de grace as the Red Storm prevailed, 4-0, winning its season opener for the 14th year in a row.

“We had four set piece goals today,” Caron said. “We drew a ton of fouls and we capitalized at the right time. Our defense played pretty good. We dropped our outside mid inside and clogged the middle and that worked.”

“It was a hot day, but Coach prepared us well,” King said. “We were conditioned to play the full 80 minutes.”

“We got opportunities and made the most of them,” added Scarborough coach Mark Diaz. “The guys are smart. At halftime, we talked about some things and we started to relax. When we relax, we’re OK.”

The Red Storm are home with Bonny Eagle Saturday and have a pivotal showdown at Gorham Tuesday.

“We’re just trying to get better,” Diaz said. “I have scrappers and hard workers. We have things to improve on. Not many easy games this year.”

South Portland eked out a 1-0 win at Sanford in its opener. Charlie Cronin had the goal. The Red Riots played at Deering Wednesday, host Gorham Saturday, go to Bonny Eagle Tuesday and play at Scarborough Thursday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth blanked visiting Freeport in its opener, 5-0. Nicolai Sabbatini and Owen Thoreck both scored twice. After hosting York Wednesday, the Capers go to defending Class B champion Yarmouth Saturday and visit Poland Tuesday.

Greater Portland Christian School won, 2-1, at Pine Tree Academy in its opener. The Lions were home with Vinalhaven Wednesday, go to Chop Point Friday, visit Rangeley Monday and travel to Vinalhaven Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Cape Elizabeth’s defending regional champion girls’ soccer team romped at Freeport in its opener, 9-1. Mariah Deschino had three goals, Presli Piscopo added two and Montana Braxton, Kate Breed, Grace Gillian and Sarah O’Conner all had one. The Capers hosted York Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story). Cape Elizabeth is at Yarmouth for a playoff rematch Saturday and hosts Poland Tuesday.

Scarborough held off visiting Deering, 2-1, in its first game. Kaleigh Scoville and Gaby Panagakos had the goals. The Red Storm went to Sanford Wednesday, visit Bonny Eagle Saturday and host Gorham Tuesday.

South Portland lost, 3-0, to Sanford in its first game. After hosting Deering Wednesday, the Red Riots go to Gorham Saturday and play host to Bonny Eagle Wednesday of next week.

GPCS lost at Pine Tree Academy, 4-1, in its opener. The Lions hosted Vinalhaven Wednesday, go to Highview Christian Friday, Rangeley Monday and Vinalhaven Wednesday of next week.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s field hockey team won the Class A championship a year ago, but was expected to come back to the pack this fall.

Guess again.

The Red Storm earned a 2-0 win at highly touted Marshwood in the opener last Wednesday (Lily Nygren and Kristen Levesque had the goals), then the Red Storm appeared en route to a relatively easy win at home against Massabesic Saturday, as Nygren finished a feed from Levesque late in the first half and Levesque finished a pass from her twin sister, Ashley Levesque, 2 minutes, 37 seconds into the second half for a seemingly safe 2-0 lead, which still held up with less than six minutes to go. Then, the Mustangs roared back, scoring twice to force overtime.

A first eight-minute, “sudden victory” session didn’t produce a goal, so it was on to a second. There, with just 2:50 left before the game would have been declared a tie, an unlikely hero emerged. Rachel Paradis stole a pass in Massabesic’s zone and finished to give the Red Storm a 3-2 triumph.

“It’s unbelievable,” Paradis said. “It was my first time in overtime. It was just a diagonal pass and I happened to intercept it and had a 1-v-1 with the goalie. I was just trying to get it anywhere. It felt amazing. I’ll never forget that moment.”

“We’re going to battle every game,” said Red Storm coach Kerry Mariello. “I’m going to continue to say that. We wanted to avoid OT, but if we have to go to OT, we’ll do it. Props to Massabesic. Tremendous effort. We’ll see them in the end.”

Tuesday, Scarborough improved to 3-0 with a 4-0 win Deering. Nygren scored twice and Kristen Levesque and Grace Bailer also rattled the cage. The Red Storm have won 21 games in a row and now boast a 64-game unbeaten streak in league play. 

Scarborough hosts Gorham Friday, goes to Bonny Eagle Monday and welcomes Cheverus Wednesday.

South Portland won its opener, 1-0, in overtime, at Gorham on Bonge Lako’s tally. Last Friday, the Red Riots hosted Marshwood and lost, 6-0, not managing a shot on goal in the setback.

“We knew that (Marshwood would) play a fast game and that they were good,” said South Portland coach Leslie Dyer. “I was hoping my team would come out with more intensity, but we just played defense. We didn’t attack. We reacted. That got to us against a solid team. We got handled.”

The Red Riots fell to 1-2 Tuesday after a 7-0 loss at Cheverus. South Portland hosted Deering Thursday and welcomes Bonny Eagle Wednesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth is 0-3 after losing at home to Falmouth (8-0), at Freeport (6-0) and at home to Fryeburg Academy (7-1). Leslie Young had the goal against the Raiders. The Capers went to Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, host Greely Saturday, go to Kennebunk Monday and welcome Lake Region Wednesday of next week.

Volleyball

Scarborough’s volleyball team avenged last year’s playoff ouster with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 15-25, 25-17) win over defending Class A champion Cape Elizabeth in the teams’ mutual opener Friday. The Red Storm then rallied for a 3-2 win at Greely Tuesday to improve to 2-0. Scarborough visits defending Class B champion Yarmouth Saturday, hosts Biddeford Monday and welcomes Gorham Thursday.

Cape Elizabeth hoped to get in the win column Thursday when it hosted Greely in a playoff rematch. The Capers welcome Mt. Desert Island Saturday, go to Biddeford Tuesday, then have a state match rematch at Falmouth Thursday of next week.

South Portland split its first two matches. After falling, 3-0, at Thornton Academy in the opener, the Red Riots eked out a 3-2 (26-24, 24-26, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13) home win over Cheverus in a thriller Tuesday. South Portland was at Windham Thursday, hosts Portland Saturday, welcomes Wells Tuesday and Deering Thursday.

Cross country

The cross country regular season began Friday when Cape Elizabeth joined Kennebunk, Traip and York at Wells. The girls came in first behind individual winner Sam Feenstra (21 minutes, 10 seconds). The boys placed third. Jared Duperre was third individually (18:01). The Capers join Falmouth, Old Orchard Beach and Sacopee Valley at Freeport Friday.

Scarborough and South Portland begin their seasons Friday when the Red Storm host Biddeford, Massabesic and Portland and the Red Riots join Cheverus and Marshwood at Windham.

Golf

Cape Elizabeth’s golf team has been very impressive in the early going. The Capers opened with a 6-1 win over Lake Region, then blanked Gray-New Gloucester, 7-0.

Defending Class A champion Scarborough dropped a 10.5-2.5 decision to Cheverus in its opener. The Red Storm then won on a tiebreaker against Falmouth and beat South Portland, 10.5-2.5

South Portland lost its first match, 8-5, to Deering, then lost to Scarborough, 10.5-2.5.

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

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Scarborough junior Garrett King is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal in the Red Storm’s 4-0 season opening win at Deering Monday. King scored twice as Scarborough made it 14 straight years with a victory on opening day.

Cape Elizabeth junior Jillian Petersen fights for possession during the Capers’ 8-0 loss to Falmouth in last week’s regular season opener.