(Ed. Note: For the complete NYA-Waynflete boys’ soccer, Greely-Falmouth girls’ soccer, Falmouth-Yarmouth field hockey and Falmouth-Yarmouth and Greely-Scarborough volleyball game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net) 

While the fall postseason began Saturday with golf’s state meet, the regular season is coming to a rapid close in the other sports and local teams are in the thick of the action.

Here’s a glimpse of the week that was and what’s on tap:

Golf

Saturday, at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, Greely placed fifth in Class A and Falmouth was seventh. Thornton Academy won with a team score of 310. The Rangers had a score of 334 and the Yachtsmen finished at 341.

Greely was led by Joe Piwowarski, who shot a 79 over the 18-hole course. Erin Holmes shot an 83, Aidan Roberts finished with a round of 85 and Sam Burgoyne and Jacob Storey both shot an 87.

Falmouth’s low scorer was Alex Whitmore (82). Also scoring were Reed Lonsdale (85), Riley Lonsdale (87) and Louis Mainella (87). Dex Dremann’s 97 wasn’t factored in.

In Class C, North Yarmouth Academy shot a 393 and was sixth (Mattanawcook Academy took first with a 323). The Panthers were paced by Dana Nichols’ round of 93. Also scoring were Owen McCarthy (98), Haven Cutko (99) and Jake Malcom (103). Conner Millett’s 105 wasn’t factored in.

The golf season comes to a close Saturday back at Natanis where Class A, B and C boys’ individual champions and an all-class girls’ individual champion will be crowned.

Boys’ soccer

Greely’s boys’ soccer team has come to life. Last week, the Rangers extended their win streak to three and their undefeated streak to six with a 4-1 home victory over Kennebunk and a 5-0 home blanking of Cape Elizabeth. Jacob Nason scored twice and Kalle Ekholm and Hunter Graham both had one goal against the Rams. Nason had a hat trick and Ekholm and Lucas Watt also scored against the Capers. Greely (6-3-2 and fourth in the Class B South Heal Points standings at press time) was at Lake Region Tuesday, has a pivotal showdown at Yarmouth Saturday, then closes at home against York Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth, the defending Class B champion, improved to 10-1 and second behind Maranacook in Class B South after blanking host York and Kennebunk by 4-0 scores last week. Against York, Patrick Grant, Matt Dostie, Luke Groothoff and Nick Kamra had the goals. In the win over the Rams, Grant, Christopher Pidden, Nate Gallagher and Henry Becker all tickled the twine. The Clippers were home against Gray-New Gloucester in a playoff rematch Tuesday, play host to Greely on Senior Night Saturday and close the season at Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

Freeport improved to 3-6-1 and 11th in Class B South after a 2-0 win at Poland last Tuesday. Nate Smail and Josh Spaudling had the goals. The Falcons home game against Traip Academy Friday was postponed. Freeport was home against Falmouth Tuesday, hosts Poland Thursday, plays the makeup game against Traip Saturday and closes at Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth improved to 8-2-1 and fourth with a 4-1 victory at Cape Elizabeth and a 5-0 home win over York last week. Against the Capers, Matt Polewaczyk, Devin Russell, Jonah Spiegel and Ben Wuesthoff had the goals. In the win over the Wildcats, Michael Sanzari scored two goals and Spiegel, Brody Lycan and Olin Rhoads also tickled the twine. The Yachtsmen were at Freeport Tuesday, visit Kennebunk Friday, then close at home Tuesday of next week versus Yarmouth.

In Class C South, North Yarmouth Academy was 7-4 and fifth in the Heals at press time after a 9-0 home romp over Lake Region and a 1-0 loss at Waynflete. Against the Lakers, the Panthers got two goals apiece from Xander Bartone and Bobby Murray and one apiece from Ryan Baker, Noah Dennis, Xander Kostenik, Trevor Lachance and Thomas Pitts.

Against the Flyers, NYA had an 8-7 edge in shots on frame and goalkeeper Zack Woods made six saves, but the Panthers still fell short, thanks to a highlight-reel 40-yard goal from Waynflete senior Willy Burdick.

“It was two good teams, two very even teams,” NYA coach Martyn Keen said. “I honestly believe without disparaging anyone else that these are the two best teams in Class C South, but time will tell.  When we got chances, we never got a clean shot off. We didn’t quite connect. I’m very satisfied with how we played. This could have easily been a tie.”

NYA went to Class D South power Richmond Tuesday. After visiting Wells Thursday, the Panthers close at home versus Poland Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Greely’s girls’ soccer team stayed perfect with recent wins at Kennebunk (4-1) and Cape Elizabeth (4-1) and at home over Falmouth (2-0). The win at the Rams was highlighted by a sensational flying header from freshman Anna DeWolfe on a feed from Izzy Hutnak. Against the Capers, the Rangers completed a season sweep thanks to two goals from Hutnak and one apiece by DeWolfe and Courtney Sullivan. In the win over the Yachtsmen, Caroline Swaney scored in the first half and Mitiguy added a goal in the second half.

“Falmouth came out strong and ready to win,” said Mitiguy. “Once we got our heads in the game, we shifted momentum.”

“There’s always pressure when you’re undefeated,” said Rangers coach Josh Muscadin. “No one will take us lightly. It comes with the territory.”

Greely (11-0 and first in the Class B South Heal Points standings at press time) hosted Lake Region Tuesday, goes to Yarmouth Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and closes at York Tuesday of next week.

“We want to keep raising the bar for ourselves,” Mitiguy said. “The senior class has been together forever. We’re really tight and we really want it. We hope to go all the way this year.”

“We don’t dwell on the past, but the seniors feel that it’s time,” Muscadin said. “If we play the way we play versus the way the other teams play, that will help us.”

Yarmouth was 4-4-3 and seventh in Class B South after scoreless home ties against York and Kennebunk last week. The Clippers were at Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, host Greely Saturday and close at Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

Freeport was 3-6-1 and 14th in the region (12 teams make the playoffs) after Friday’s game at Traip Academy was postponed by rain. The Falcons were at Poland Tuesday, visit Poland Thursday and Traip Saturday, then close at home versus Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth beat visiting Cape Elizabeth, 1-0, lost at York, 1-0, then lost at Greely, 2-0, to fall to 5-4-2 and sixth in Class A South. In the win, Tyler Spence had the goal. Against the Rangers, the Yachtsmen had chances but couldn’t finish.

“I was happy with everybody’s performance,” said Falmouth coach Andrew Pelletier. “We worked hard and played good soccer. That’s all I can ask for.”

The Yachtsmen were home with Freeport Tuesday, host Kennebunk Thursday and close at home versus Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

“We’d love to go 3-0 to finish out the season,” Pelletier said. “We don’t really care where we go into playoffs. We want to go in healthy and playing good soccer and we’re on the right road right now.”

In Class C South, NYA was 1-11 and 12th in the standings (11 teams make the playoffs) following a 6-2 loss at Lake Region and a 2-0 home setback at the hands of rival Waynflete. Emily Baker and Isabelle Coleman had the goals against the Lakers. The Panthers were home with Old Orchard Beach Tuesday and close at Poland Monday.

Field hockey

All five local field hockey teams were still in the mix for a playoff spot at press time.

Yarmouth will likely be the second seed in Class B South. The Clippers beat host Poland, 3-1, then lost a last-second heartbreaker, 2-1, to visiting Falmouth on Senior Night to fall to 10-2-1. Emilie Martin, Ally MacLeod and Abby McDowell scored against the Knights. In the loss, MacLeod (from McDowell) tied the game late in the first half. Yarmouth dominated much of the second half, but couldn’t go ahead and then the Yachtsmen got the winner with 6.2 seconds to play.

“We wanted to come out with a win in this one, but we’ll learn from it,” said Yarmouth coach Mandy Lewist. “These girls have put together an amazing season so far. We have to continue to focus on a playoff run.”

The Clippers closed the regular season at Traip Tuesday.

Freeport was 5-8 and eighth in Class B South at press time (10 teams qualify for the playoffs). Last week, the Falcons lost at Fryeburg Academy, 3-1, and had a game at Traip Academy rained out. Alexa Koenig had the goal against the Raiders. Monday, Freeport played the makeup game at Traip and won, 4-0. The Falcons closed the regular season at Wells Tuesday.

Greely finished 5-9 and was awaiting its playoff fate after closing with a 3-0 home win over Gray-New Gloucester Monday. Mariah Wilcox had a hat trick. Last week, the Rangers (ninth in Class B South at press time) lost at Kennebunk (2-0) and at NYA (1-0).

Falmouth improved to 8-5 and seventh in Class A South after Friday’s palpitating 2-1 win at Yarmouth. The Yachtsmen got an early goal from Isabella Libby and the winner from Lisa Smoluk with 6.2 seconds remaining.

“We had the opportunity and we took it,” Smoluk said. “I had no idea there were six seconds left. That’s definitely the biggest goal I’ve ever had.”

“We were coming up with our seven (players) for overtime and then we scored,” Falmouth coach Robin Haley said. “It was great.”

The Yachtsmen got 11 huge saves from goalie Elizabeth Amadei.

“(The Clippers) were really, really good,” Amadei said. “I was just trying to protect the goal.”

Falmouth closed the regular season at home versus winless Cape Elizabeth Wednesday.

NYA extended its win streak to six last week by downing visiting Cape Elizabeth (3-0) and host Greely (1-0) to improve to 9-4 (fifth in Class C South). Against the Capers, Kiersten Marr had two goals and Keeley Bartolini had the other. In the win over the Rangers, Savannah Shaw had the lone goal. The Panthers closed at home against the McAuley/Waynflete co-op team Wednesday.

The playoffs begin this weekend with the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Volleyball 

It was another successful week for local volleyball teams.

Greely improved to 9-1 in its last 10 matches with a 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21) win at Scarborough and a 3-0 (30-28, 25-23, 25-23) home victory over Gorham.

Against the Red Storm, standout Kayley Cimino had 14 kills, 12 assists and five aces.

“We’ve been (in close matches) so many times this season, so we keep our energy up the whole match,” said Cimino. “We don’t let ourselves get down.” 

“A win’s a win,” Rangers coach Kelvin Hasch said. “I thought we played pretty good the first two sets. We forgot how to pass in the third set. The fourth set started the same way, so I had to change it up.”

Cimino had 14 kills against Gorham. Greely (9-3 and fourth in the Class A Heal Points standings at press time) visited Cony Tuesday and closes at home versus Biddeford Saturday.

Falmouth is peaking at the right time, improving to 9-3 and second in Class A after wins last week over visiting Biddeford in three sets (25-21, 25-23, 25-23) and Yarmouth in four sets (9-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-18). Lydia Farmer had 11 kills and Julia Treadwell finished with nine kills against the Tigers. In the win over the Clippers, the Yachtsmen bounced back from a slow start, getting 20 assists from Amanda Watson, 12 kills from Farmer and 11 from Treadwell.

“We saw they were getting us in our weak spots (in the first set),” Watson said. “We just had to fix our mistakes and we knew what to do.”

“Nights like tonight, when everybody’s on, I think we’re unstoppable,” Farmer said. “

“It didn’t start well, but I’m so impressed how we came back,” added Yachtsmen first-year coach Molly Northway. “We have an old team on paper, but we have a young team on the court. We had some luck on our side. It’s huge for us.”

Falmouth was at defending Class A champion Cape Elizabeth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for story) and closes at home against Scarborough Thursday.

Yarmouth earned a 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-15) home win over Kennebunk (Alison Clark had 10 kills, Breanna Taylor added five kills and Andrea St. Pierre finished with seven aces), then, despite a strong first set at Falmouth, lost in four sets to fall to 8-3 and seventh in Class A.

“It’s such a strange game,” Senecal said. “You never know. We got outplayed by a team that looked like they wanted it more tonight.”

The Clippers were at Biddeford Tuesday, host Cony Thursday and close at home versus Cape Elizabeth Saturday (see theforecaster.net for story).

NYA extended its win streak to five matches last week with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-13, 25-15) victory at Wells to improve to 8-5 and sixth in Class B. The Panthers close at Bonny Eagle Thursday.

Cross country

The cross country regular season wound up last weekend.

NYA hosted Freeport, Greely, Fryeburg Academy and Lake Region. In the boys’ meet, the Rangers were first as a team, as Ryan Morrison (16 minutes, 28.85 seconds) was the top individual. The Falcons came in second as a team. Erik Brobst placed fourth (17:19.08) individually. The Panthers were fourth, as Jack Sillin placed 15th for scoring purposes (20:15.78). In the girls’ meet, Greely was first, Freeport second and NYA fourth. The Rangers had the top two individuals, Katherine Leggat-Barr (19:03.47) and Carolyn Todd (19:15.54). The Falcons were paced by Lily Horne (15th, 22:51.67). The top Panther was Megan Alberding (eighth, 21:10.55).

Falmouth and Maine Coast Waldorf School joined Gray-New Gloucester and Poland at Cape Elizabeth. The Yachtsmen boys were first and Jeremiah Sands was the top individual in 16:11. MCW placed fourth. Tucker Pierce was fifth individually (16:27.10). In the girls’ meet, Falmouth came in second behind the hosts. Mira Wyman was fifth (19:46). MCW placed third and Fiona Ahearne came in third individually (19:41). 

Yarmouth ran with Kennebunk and Waynflete at Sacopee Valley. The Clippers boys were first, as Ben Cox-Faxon placed second individually (17:56). The girls were also first, as Anneka Murrin was first individually in 19:32.

This weekend brings the Western Maine Conference championship meet at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. 

The regional championship meet is Oct. 24. The state meet is Oct. 31. Both will be held at Twin Brook in Cumberland.

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

Sidebar Elements

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NYA junior Bobby Murray shields the ball from Waynflete junior Jack Meahl during the Panthers’ tough 1-0 loss Saturday.

Falmouth’s field hockey team celebrates its last-second 2-1 win at Yarmouth Friday.

Greely’s Molly Chapin tips the ball over a Scarborough defender for a point during the Rangers’ 3-1 win last week.

Freeport’s Erik Brobst heads toward a fourth-place finish in the muck at last week’s five-team meet at NYA. The Falcons boys came in second.