(Ed. Note: For the complete Scarborough-South Portland boys’ soccer and Cape Elizabeth-Freeport girls’ soccer game stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

By press time, almost every local fall sports team will have begun play. Football got plenty of attention last weekend (please see story), but there’s a lot more to the fall landscape than just the gridiron.

Here’s a glimpse.

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough’s defending Class A state champion boys’ soccer team began the 2013 season with a dominating performance, then was brought crashing back to Earth.

Saturday, the Red Storm welcomed South Portland and had its way with the Red Riots, winning, 5-0, behind two goals from Wyatt Omsberg and one apiece from Sam Cekada, Brendan Lorello and Noah Stracqualursi.

“We lost a lot from last year, but we’re back and we’re ready,” said Omsberg. “We were a little shaky, but once we got settled in, we were fine. This is definitely a new team with new faces, but we’re ready to play. We had a different mindset this year. We came prepared.”

“(Our tradition is) unspoken,” said Scarborough’s longtime coach Mark Diaz. “Fortunately, the senior class teaches the younger kids how to do things. They show them how and lead by example and we keep going. The younger kids watch and want their turn. We were unselfish with the ball. We definitely finished well today. It was one of those days.”

Tuesday, the Red Storm hosted Portland. Scarborough beat the Bulldogs, 3-0, in last year’s playoffs, but this time, Portland managed a first half goal, then held on for a stunning 1-0 upset. The Red Storm (which saw its regular season unbeaten streak end at 20 games and its overall unbeaten streak snapped at 19) looked to bounce back Thursday at Biddeford. Scarborough plays at Marshwood Tuesday of next week and returns home Thursday to play host to Sanford.

South Portland was outshot, 13-4, in its opening loss at Scarborough.

“I don’t want to take anything away from (Scarborough), but we’re better than that,” said Red Riots coach Bryan Hoy. “We didn’t play our best game. Maybe it was a letdown, but I don’t think this is the team we’ll have the rest of the season. Everyone’s entitled to a bad game now and then, but Scarborough’s relentless.”

South Portland got in the win column Tuesday with a 4-2 victory at Thornton Academy. Danny Fox had the winning goal, while Cam Conner, Robert Graff and Ahmed Suja also tickled the twine. The Red Riots were home with dangerous Gorham Thursday and welcome Westbrook Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth opened at York Tuesday and settled for a scoreless tie. The Capers seek their first victory Monday at Poland, then visit two-time defending Class A champion Falmouth Wednesday.

Greater Portland Christian School beat visiting Rangeley, 3-1, in its first game. Eddie Daigneault, Ethan Spaulding and Sam Whiting had the goals. Mason Jones made five saves. The Lions then lost, 7-0, at Pine Tree Academy, Monday. GPCS  is at Highview Christian Friday, visits Islesboro Saturday and plays host to Chop Point Wednesday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Scarborough also opened with South Portland and also enjoyed a lopsided win, 8-0. Hadlee Yescott had four goals and three assists. Aly Atherton, Margareta Ianosi-Irimie, Katherine Kirk and Sam Sparda all scored once. The Red Storm improved to 2-0 Monday with a 5-0 win at Portland (Yescott led the way with two goals). Scarborough is home with Biddeford Saturday and welcomes Marshwood Wednesday.

South Portland got 17 saves from goalkeeper Emma Russell in its loss to Scarborough. The Red Riots hosted Thornton Academy in their home opener Wednesday. After going to Gorham Saturday, South Portland plays at Westbrook Wednesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth is living up to preseason expectations. The Capers opened at Freeport and after a sluggish start, got goals from five different players (Kathryn Clark, Elise Flathers, Phoebe Shields, Kate Breed and Kirsten Rudberg) in a 5-0 victory.

“We were a little shaky at first,” said Clark. “Our first halves (in the preseason) have been questionable, but once we get going, we’re in control.”

“It’s a big win on the board,” said Craig Fannan, the first-year Cape Elizabeth coach. “It’s good for the girls. We had a few nerves, but we have six girls who can play midfield and keep the ball for us. We have fast forwards who can attack. Hopefully we’ll keep getting better and better.”

Tuesday, the Capers got an early goal from Breed and made it stand up to beat visiting York, 1-0. Cape Elizabeth hosts Poland Monday, then has a home showdown versus three-time defending Class B champion Falmouth Wednesday.

Greater Portland Christian School lost to Rangeley (5-1) and Pine Tree (4-2) in its first two outings. The Lions host Highview Christian Saturday.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s defending Western A field hockey team is up to its usual tricks, even after being hard hit by graduation.

The Red Storm opened with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Marshwood, handled visiting Massabesic, 5-1, then blanked host Noble, 9-0, to extend their three-year regular season win streak to 26. Maggie Carbin had both goals against the Hawks. In the win over the Mustangs, five different players (Carbin, Maddie Dobecki, Kristen Levesque, Kristen Murray and Abby Walker) all scored. Carbin had a hat trick and Murray had two goals versus the Knights. Scarborough was home with Portland Thursday, welcomes Sanford Monday and goes to Windham Wednesday.

South Portland started with losses to Gorham (4-0), Marshwood (5-0) and Massabesic (5-1). Kristina Salafia had the goal against the Mustangs. The Red Riots were home versus Noble Thursday, go to Portland Monday and welcome Sanford Wednesday.

Cape Elizabeth blanked host Gray-New Gloucester, 2-0, in its opener, then dropped a heartbreaking, 1-0, double-overtime decision to Falmouth. In the victory, Abby McInerney and Megan Nicholson had the goals. The Capers were at Poland Wednesday, host Fryeburg Friday and go to Greely Tuesday.

Cross country

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B state champion boys’ cross country team won its first regular season meet, beating visiting Falmouth and Freeport. Liam Simpson was first on the three-mile course in 16 minutes, 3 seconds. The girls came in third. Samantha Feenstra (eighth, 20:58) was the top individual. The Capers join Greely and Yarmouth at Lake Region Friday.

Scarborough (along with Biddeford and Massabesic) opens its season Friday at Portland. South Portland (with Marshwood and Windham) goes to Cheverus.

Golf

Cape Elizabeth’s golf team reached 6-0 with a 4-3 win over York Tuesday. Scarborough handled Cheverus (10.5-2.5) and South Portland (12-1) in its first two outings. The Red Storm hosts Falmouth this coming Thursday. The Red Riots, meanwhile, took an 0-2 mark into Thursday’s match at Cheverus.

Volleyball

Scarborough’s highly touted volleyball program began the season with wins over visiting Thornton Academy (3-0, by 25-11, 25-14 and 25-9 scores) and Cony (3-0, by 25-5, 25-17, 25-10 scores). After traveling to nemesis and reigning Class A state champion Greely Thursday, the Red Storm hosts Gorham Monday and visits Biddeford Wednesday.

Cape Elizabeth, in its first year under coach Sarah Boeckel, is off to a 2-0 start as well. The Capers downed visiting Gorham by a 3-1 (25-8, 18-25, 25-15, 26-24) margin in their first match, then handled visiting South Portland, 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-17). Cape Elizabeth was at Windham Thursday, visits Yarmouth Monday and plays host to Cony Wednesday.

South Portland’s first year program has dropped its first two matches by 3-1 scores to Windham and Cape Elizabeth. The Red Riots were seeking their initial victory Thursday at home versus Kennebunk. South Portland hosts Cheverus Monday and goes to Gorham Wednesday.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Scarborough senior Wyatt Omsberg skies to head the ball over a South Portland defender during the teams’ opener Saturday. Omsberg scored twice to lead the Red Storm to a 5-0 victory.

Scarborough junior Josh Morrissey and South Portland senior Calvin Cronin battle for a loose ball.

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