Cheverus quarterback Marc Reali tries to pass while under pressure during the Stags’ 49-26 win at Edward Little Friday.

Cheverus’ Bella Booth handles the ball during the Stags’ 2-0 loss at Scarborough last week.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Cheverus-Marshwood and Cheverus-Scarborough field hockey game stories, please see theforecaster.net)

The first hardware of the fall sports season was handed out last weekend in Vassalboro and there will be plenty more to come.

The field hockey regular season is wrapping up and it won’t be long until football, soccer, volleyball and cross country will move on to their next phase as well.

Here’s a look back at the week that was and a glimpse at the key matchups to come:

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Golf

For the first time in memory, no city golf teams qualified for the Class A state match, which was won by Mt. Ararat.

At last week’s Southwestern Maine Activities Association qualifier, Portland tied for sixth with a team round of 355, but Gorham advanced on a tiebreaker as only the top six teams moved on. Cheverus (350) was ninth and Deering (356) placed 11th.

Cheverus’ Tom Higgins (an 18-hole round of 76), Deering’s Bennett Berg (78), Portland’s Cooper Bay (82) and Portland’s Jake Luce (83) all qualified for the individual state championship, which will be held at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro Saturday.

Football

Portland’s football team easily improved to 5-1 Friday with a 49-0 home win over Bangor. The Bulldogs raced to a 21-0 lead after one quarter, thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Sam Knop to Ben Stasium and a pair of long TD runs from Ben Trefethen (62- and 43-yards). After Jamal Moriba scored on runs of 8- and 6-yards and Nate Kapongo (45-yards) and Trefethen (35-yards) returned fumbles for scores in the second period, Portland rolled to victory.

The Bulldogs (second in the Class A North Heal Points standings) next have a showdown at 5-1 Oxford Hills, the top-ranked squad in the region, which is coming off an impressive victory over perennial power Bonny Eagle, Friday night (see theforecaster.net for game story). Portland closes at home versus ancient rival South Portland.

Cheverus improved to 4-2 and third in the region following a wild 49-26 win at Edward Little. The Stags fell behind, 14-0, after one quarter. After quarterback Marc Reali hit Sean Tompkins for a 23-yard score, the Red Eddies took a 20-7 lead, but Reali found Vick Marrone from 6-yards out to cut the deficit to 20-14 at halftime. In the third quarter, Tompkins tied the score with a 56-yard TD run, Teigan Lindstedt returned an interception 29-yards for the lead, Lindstedt scored again on an 84-yard run and a 45-yard pass from Reali to Marrone made it 42-20. After Edward Little scored early in the fourth period, a 1-yard Lindstedt run accounted for the final score.

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“I think we had to catch up with the speed of their wide-open game and then once we got a look at — kind of the hard way — and got a look at a couple of things they were doing, we were able to kind of play our game,” Cheverus coach Mike Vance said.

The Stags welcome 0-6 Windham Saturday, then close at Bangor.

Deering got its second win of the season Friday night, holding off visiting South Portland, 13-7. After a scoreless first quarter, Mike Randall scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-0 halftime lead. Randall caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from James Opio in the third period and while the extra point failed, the Rams had some breathing room, which loomed large in the fourth quarter, when the Red Riots got a touchdown, but Deering held on to improve to 2-4 and fifth in Class A South. The Rams have a key showdown at resurgent Sanford (4-2) Friday, then close at home versus Massabesic.

Boys’ soccer

Cheverus’ boys’ soccer team is in the midst of its best regular season in years and the Stags entered the week 8-1-1 and second behind Gorham in the Class A South Heals following last Thursday’s 1-0 home win over Scarborough. Michael Nason scored the game’s lone goal. Cheverus was at Thornton Academy Tuesday, hosts Gorham Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), goes to South Portland Saturday, then closes the regular season Tuesday of next week at Biddeford.

Portland was 4-3-3 and sixth in Class A South following a 5-4 overtime win at Marshwood and a 2-1 home victory over Deering last week. Anselmo Tela had four goals, including the OT tally, against the Hawks and Gracien Mukwa also scored. In the win over the Rams, Mwandja Kaluto and Tahn Tiparos had the goals. The Bulldogs were at South Portland Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), host Scarborough Friday, welcome Westbrook for a makeup game Saturday and close at Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

Deering was 4-6-1 and was clinging to the 12th and final playoff spot at press time after a scoreless home tie versus Bonny Eagle and a 2-1 loss at Portland. Mohamed Abdurahman scored on a penalty kick against the Bulldogs. After hosting Sanford Tuesday and visiting Westbrook Thursday, the Rams close at home versus Marshwood Monday of next week.

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In Class C South, Waynflete began the week 8-0-2 and third behind Hall-Dale and Maranacook in the Heals after wins last week at Fryeburg Academy (3-0) and Sacopee Valley (2-0). Joey Ansel-Mullen, Diraige Dahia and Askar Houssein had the goals in the win over the Raiders. Against the Hawks, Houssein and Ian McClure-Chute both scored. The Flyers welcomed Wells Monday, went to St. Dom’s Tuesday, have a showdown at four-time defending Class B state champion Yarmouth Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and close at home versus York Monday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Cheverus’ girls’ soccer team began the week 10-2 and fourth in Class A South after a 6-2 home victory over Biddeford and a 3-1 home loss to Scarborough, which snapped a seven-game win streak. Against the Tigers, Helena Bolduc, Emma Gallant and Mia Kratzer had two goals apiece. Bolduc scored in the loss to the Red Storm. The Stags are at Sanford Wednesday and close at home versus Noble Tuesday of next week.

Portland moved up to 6-4-1 and eighth in Class A South following a 2-1 double-overtime victory at Thornton Academy and a 2-0 home win over Noble last week. Isabella More scored in regulation and Grace Stacey had the OT goal against the Golden Trojans. In the win over the Knights, Stacey and Toni Stevenson tickled the twine. The Bulldogs host Bonny Eagle Wednesday, visit Deering Friday and close at home versus Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 2-9 and 14th in Class A South (where 12 teams make the playoffs) following losses to visiting Marshwood (4-0) and at Thornton Academy (3-0). Gianna Charest made 17 saves against the Golden Trojans.

In Class C South, Waynflete began the week 2-9 and 14th (only 11 teams make the playoffs) after a a 1-0 home win over North Yarmouth Academy and a 4-3 setback at Sacopee Valley. Lucy Goodman scored in the victory. Against the Hawks, Clara Sandberg, Devan Sherry and Kilee Sherry all had goals and Jessica Connors made seven saves. The Flyers are home versus Old Orchard Beach Wednesday, visit Fryeburg Academy Saturday and close at home versus St. Dom’s Monday of next week.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey team sandwiched home wins over Marshwood (1-0) and Deering (7-0) around a 2-0 loss at Scarborough last week to improve to 7-6. Against the Hawks, Lucia Pompeo scored early and goalie Hannah Woodford stopped a dozen shots.

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“It was really important for us to win,” Pompeo said. “This is a confidence-booster. We can’t get in our heads too much and get frustrated. We need to keep it positive.”

“I was just hoping I could make the saves and the defense could get the ball out,” said Woodford.

“This was great,” Stags coach Sally Cloutier added. “What a good match. (Marshwood’s) a good team. They gave us a ton of pressure, but our kids held up. We got lucky because they’re fast and quick and have dangerous players.”

Against the Red Storm, Cheverus dominated early, but couldn’t score, then fell behind and couldn’t catch up. The Stags got 11 saves from Woodford and had six corners, but couldn’t put the ball in the goal.

“It’s a tough loss,” said Cloutier. “We dominated the first half, but we just couldn’t score.”

In the win over the Rams, Sophia Pompeo scored three times, Bella Booth added two and Paige DeGeorge and Haylee Hinkle each had one goal.

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Cheverus (seventh in Class A South) closed the regular season at Noble Tuesday and will likely host a preliminary round playoff game Saturday.

Deering was 4-8 and 13th in Class A South at press time, but only 12 teams make the playoffs. Last week, the Rams edged visiting Windham, 3-2, and lost at Cheverus, 7-0. In the victory, Donna Thach scored twice and Alyssa Staples had the other goal. Deering had a makeup game at Bonny Eagle Monday and welcomes Kennebunk Wednesday in the finale.

Portland fell to 0-12-1 and 17th in the region following losses last week at Massabesic (4-1), at home to top-ranked Biddeford (9-0) and at South Portland (5-2). Phoebe Howland scored and Jada McIlwain made 25 saves in the loss to the Mustangs. McIlwain stopped 23 shots against the Tigers. In the loss to the Red Riots, Jaidyn Appel had two goals and McIlwain made 18 saves. The Bulldogs closed at home versus Gorham Tuesday.

Volleyball

Deering’s volleyball team began the week 8-3 and fifth in Class A following a 3-0 home win (25-1, 25-3, 25-20) over Massabesic last week. The Rams were at Biddeford Tuesday, welcome top-ranked Falmouth Friday and close at Brunswick Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 5-6 and eighth in Class A (where 10 teams qualify for the playoffs) after a five-set win (17-25, 25-20, 26-24, 20-25, 15-11) at Bonny Eagle and a straight set loss at Gorham last week. The Stags were at Kennebunk Tuesday, host Cony Thursday and close at home versus Portland Tuesday of next week.

Portland fell to 1-10 and 13th last week after four-set losses at home to Marshwood (17-25, 25-21, 10-25, 17-25) and at Windham (21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 8-25). The Bulldogs were home with Scarborough Tuesday, welcome Massabesic Thursday, then close at Cheverus Tuesday of next week.

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Cross country

Portland hosted a city cross country meet against Cheverus, Deering and South Portland Friday.

The Bulldogs boys were first, while the Rams placed second and the Stags were third. Deering’s Alec Troxell was first individually, finishing the five-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 51 seconds. Portland’s Joe Harrington was runner-up in 17:23. Cheverus was paced by Will Herman (ninth, 17:59).

The girls’ meet was won by Deering with Cheverus coming in second and Portland third. The Rams were led by individual winner Sierra Aponte-Clarke (20:33). The Stags were paced by Rosie Train (second, 20:39). The top Bulldog was Inez Braceras (eighth, 21:45).

Waynflete joined NYA and Old Orchard Beach at Maine Coast Waldorf. In the boys’ meet, won by MCW, the Flyers were second as Henry Spritz was the top individual in 17:23. In the girls’ race, also won by MCW, Waynflete was runner-up as Blythe Thompson was the team’s top individual (second, 22:06).

This weekend, while Cheverus, Deering and Portland gear up for the regional championships Oct. 20, Waynflete will run in the Western Maine Conference championship meet Friday in Standish.

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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