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

The first full week of the fall sports season is now behind us and not surprisingly, local athletes have made strong initial statements.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

Defending Class B state champion Falmouth entered Tuesday’s showdown at rival Greely (please see theforecaster.net for game story) with a 3-0 record following romps last week over visiting North Yarmouth Academy (8-0) and host Poland (7-0). Luke Velas had four goals against the Panthers. In the win over the Knights, Cooper Lycan and J.P. White both scored twice. After playing at Greely, the Yachtsmen are idle until next Tuesday when they go to Freeport.

Yarmouth has turned it on. The Clippers tied NYA, 2-2, in their first outing, but got into the win column last Wednesday with a 4-0 home win over Lake Region. Yarmouth ousthot the Lakers, 41-0, as David Clemmer, Ben Decker, David Murphy and Thomas Sullivan all scored. Saturday, the Clippers hosted Cape Elizabeth and scored four times (more than they had in any game against the Capers this century), surrendering just one. Murphy opened the scoring with a goal off a short corner. Just 82 seconds after Cape Elizabeth drew even, Adam LaBrie scored to put Yarmouth ahead to stay. Second half goals from LaBrie and Sullivan accounted for the 4-1 final.

“I was happy with the intensity and effort,” said Clippers coach Mike Hagerty. “It was a great game. How you respond is important. Communication is so big in this sport. When these kids talk, they’re really good. When we don’t, we’re not good. I thought we talked really well. Our effort was terrific. I think we went 15, 16 deep and it didn’t feel like there was a dropoff.”

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Yarmouth returns to the pitch Thursday at York, then visits Cape Elizabeth Saturday. The Clippers return home Tuesday to face Poland.

“I think we can be a lot better,” said LaBrie. “We have to keep going. This shows what we can do. There’s a lot we can do better.”

“We’re a young team that will get better as the season goes along,” said Sullivan. “We had a slow start, but we play with a chip on our shoulders.”

Freeport evened its record at 1-1 last Thursday with a 2-1 victory at Lake Region. Saturday, the Falcons settled for a 1-1 home tie versus Fryeburg. Parker Matheson had the goal. Monday, against visiting Greely in a makeup game, Freeport fell to 1-2-1 with a 2-0 loss. The Falcons go to Gray-New Gloucester Thursday and visit Class C champion Waynflete Saturday. Tuesday, they host Falmouth.

In Western A, Greely took a 3-0 record into Tuesday’s home game with Falmouth after beating host Freeport in a makeup contest Monday, 2-0. Mitchel Donovan and Ted Hart scored goals. The Rangers hadn’t played since Aug. 31. Greely is home with Poland Thursday, goes to York Saturday and visits Fryeburg Tuesday.

In Western C, NYA bounced back from an 8-0 loss at Falmouth with an 8-0 victory at Wells. D.J. Nicholas had four goals, while Eliott Wellenbach added a pair. The Panthers were at A.R. Gould Tuesday, host rival Waynflete Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visit Fryeburg Saturday and play host to Wells Wednesday of next week.

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Girls’ soccer

Greely’s girls’ soccer team opened in style last Tuesday with a 3-1 home win over Freeport. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on junior Allie Morrill’s goal. They held that advantage into the half, thanks to standout play from senior goalkeeper Caton Beaulieu. Early in the second half, the Mitiguy sisters made their presence felt as freshman Jocelyn and senior Julia both struck in a seven minute span and even though the Falcons eventually got on the board, Greely went on to a 3-1 victory.

“All things considered, it was a good start,” said Greely coach Michael Kennedy. “First games are always hard. Especially with a young team. It took them a little while to settle down in the first half. Once they did, they moved the ball around. I was happy with the ball movement. I wasn’t as much concerned with the score as with how we played. I thought we played really well. We attacked well. We defended really well. We did all the components of the game well.”

The Rangers returned to action Tuesday at home against two-time defending Class B champion Falmouth (please see theforecaster.net for game story). Greely is at Poland Thursday and goes to York Saturday. Tuesday of next week, the Rangers return home to meet Fryeburg.

Freeport got a goal from Necole Harrison and strong goalie play from Aubrey Pennell (13 saves) in its loss to Greely, which was the Falcons’ first game.

“It was a great game,” said Freeport coach Elayna Girardin. “I was really happy with how the girls played. We had about 10 minutes in the second half where we let down and lost our shape. That ultimately hurt us. It’s getting the girls to play 80 minutes. Greely is one of the top teams. Freeport is still trying to gain their confidence and knowing we can play with them. In the beginning, we were nervous. Once we settled down, we did a better job and got chances to goal.  It’s something to build on. This was a tough game to start with.”

The Falcons got in the win column Saturday, 3-0, over visiting Lake Region. Jocelyn Davee, Alyssa Richardson and Julia Smith scored. After a trip to Fryeburg Tuesday, Freeport hosts Gray-New Gloucester Thursday and Waynflete Saturday and visits Falmouth Tuesday.

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Yarmouth dropped to 1-2 last week after losses at Lake Region (2-1) and Cape Elizabeth (2-0). Sara Myers had the goal versus the Lakers. Yarmouth is at York Thursday and hosts Cape Elizabeth Saturday.

Two-time defending Class B champion Falmouth improved to 3-0 with shutout wins at NYA (5-0) and at home over Poland (2-0) last week. In the win over the Panthers, Caitlin Bucksbaum, Cassie Darrow, Mary Catherine Kowalsky, Tyler Spence and Julia Spugnardi all scored. Bucksbaum and Taylor Russell had goals against the Knights. The Yachtsmen were at Greely Tuesday, visit Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and host Freeport Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, NYA lost to visiting Falmouth (5-0) and Old Orchard Beach (3-1) last week to fall to 0-3. Scout Fischman stopped 19 shots versus the Yachtsmen. Alex Wahlstrom scored versus the Seagulls. The Panthers seek their first win Thursday at Waynflete. NYA is home against Fryeburg Saturday and goes to Old Orchard Beach Wednesday of next week.

Field hockey

NYA’s two-time defending Class C state champion field hockey team is off to a great start in 2012. After downing visiting Freeport in the opener, 3-0, the Panthers enjoyed another 3-0 home win Saturday, over preseason Western B favorite Greely. In that one, Olivia Madore broke a scoreless tie midway through the second half. Julianna Tardif and Marina Poole added tallies to account for the final score. NYA improved to 3-0 Monday with a 7-1 win at Old Orchard Beach. Maura Anderson rattled the cage on three occasions, while Kayla Rose scored twice. Madore and Poole had one goal each. The Panthers have a home showdown versus reigning Western B champion York Wednesday (please see theforecaster.net for game story), go to Waynflete Friday and host Sacopee Tuesday.

Freeport bounced back from that opening loss at NYA with three straight victories, capped by home wins last weekend over Sacopee (3-1) and Old Orchard Beach (5-0). Olivia Bubar scored twice against the Hawks, while Korissa Lavers added one. Hannah Williams had an assist. Tallie Martin made 15 saves. Versus the Seagulls, Bubar and Sydney Ambrose both rattled the cage twice, while Dayze Gaulin also scored. Bubar and Lavers had assists. Martin made seven saves to pitch the shutout. Falcons coach Sara Dimick credited Megan Peacock and Abby Smith for strong midfield play and Lorin Martens and Reiley Parker for their defensive effort. Freeport hoped to make it four in a row Tuesday at Poland. After hosting Gray-New Gloucester Friday, the Falcons visit Traip Tuesday of next week. Next Thursday brings a showdown at NYA.

In Western B, Falmouth suffered its first loss, 1-0, in overtime, to visiting Lake Region last Thursday. The Yachtsmen were coming off a 4-0 triumph at Yarmouth (Eleanor Fitzgerald, Mikey Richards, Jillian Rothweiler and Dayna Vasconcelos had the goals). Falmouth fell to 3-2 Monday after a 1-0 loss at nemesis York. The Yachtsmen host Fryeburg Friday and go to Greely Tuesday of next week.

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The Rangers fell to 0-4 after losses last week at York (2-1) and NYA (3-0). Rachel Hanson had the goal versus the Wildcats. Monday, Greely got in the win column with a 4-0 home victory over Gray-New Gloucester. Emily Domingo had two goals, Kathryn Bower and Mimi Lyon-Edmonson one apiece. The Rangers were at Fryeburg Wednesday, go to Wells Monday and host Falmouth Tuesday.

Yarmouth fell at home to Falmouth (4-0) and beat host Traip (2-1) last week. In the victory, Emma Peterson and Carlene Shaw had the goals. Monday, the Clippers improved to 3-2 after a 1-0 home win over Wells. Katie Overhaug had the goal. Yarmouth was at Waynflete Wednesday, then doesn’t play until Sept. 20 when Fryeburg pays a visit.

Cross country

On the trails, Greely hosted NYA, Poland and York last weekend. The Rangers boys were second as a team to the Wildcats. Nate Madeira was the fastest individual (17 minutes, 29 seconds). The Panthers were were third as a team and Matt Malcolm came in third individually (18:16). In the girls’ meet, Greely had no peer as a team and Eva Bates won the race in 20:30. NYA came in fourth as Hannah Austin finished third (21:48).

Falmouth and Merriconeag ran at Gray-New Gloucester. In the boys’ competition, the Yachtsmen were first, Merriconeag second. Merriconeag’s Jack Pierce was first (17:29). Falmouth’s top finisher was Bryce Murdick (third, 18:03). The Yachtsmen were also first on the girls’ side, as Madeline Roberts placed first (22:35). Samantha Pierce of Merriconeag finished second (22:51).

Yarmouth joined Sacopee at Fryeburg. The girls were first as Sarah Becker won the race in 21:40. The boys were second to Fryeburg. Braden Becker was second individually (17:43).

Freeport (along with Lake Region, Traip and Wells) ran at Cape Elizabeth last weekend. Both Falcons teams came in second to the hosts. Abrim Berkemeyer was third in the boys’ race (16:48). In the girls’ competition, Nina Davenport placed fourth (21:25).

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This week, Merriconeag joins Cape Elizabeth and Poland at York Thursday, while Friday, Greely (along with Sacopee, Traip and Waynflete) goes to Wells, Yarmouth hosts NYA, Gray-New Gloucester and Lake Region and Saturday, Freeport hosts Falmouth and Fryeburg.

Golf

Defending Class A golf champion Falmouth is now 3-0 after recent victories over Cheverus (9-4) and Portland (11-2). The Yachtsmen have a test at Scarborough Monday.

Freeport took an 0-2 mark into Wednesday’s home matches versus Waynflete and Wells.

Greely is now 3-1 after downing host Westbrook (11-2) and falling at Thornton Academy (9-4).

NYA continues to impress in its return to varsity play. Last week, the Panthers downed Old Orchard Beach (5-1) and Freeport (5.5-1.5) to improve to 4-1.

Yarmouth might be the team to beat in Western B. The Clippers made it four straight with a 6-1 victory over York last Thursday. Yarmouth was at Freeport Tuesday and hosts Waynflete Thursday.

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Volleyball

Recent volleyball rivals Greely and Falmouth met for the first time this fall Monday night in Cumberland.

The host and defending Class A champion Rangers opened with a 3-1 (27-29, 20-25, 25-23, 20-25) loss at Biddeford last Tuesday, then got in the win column two days later, 3-0 (25-5, 25-15, 25-18) over visiting Lake Region. The Yachtsmen had beaten Cheverus and Cony 3-0 last week. Monday, Greely improved to 2-1 and dropped Falmouth to 2-2 with a 3-0 decision (25-19, 25-18, 25-14).

The Rangers hosted Kennebunk Wednesday, go to NYA Friday and welcome Biddeford Wednesday of next week.

The Yachtsmen host Cheverus Friday and Windham Wednesday.

Defending Class B champion Yarmouth improved to 4-0 with wins at home over Cape Elizabeth (3-0, by 25-10, 25-18, 25-18 scores), at Bucksport (3-1) and Jonesport-Beals (3-2). Kate Myers had 15 straight service points, including six aces against the Capers. Myers had 20 total service points, eight aces and two kills. Gina Robertson had six kills. Maddy Mairhofer finished with 12 digs. The Clippers hosted Gorham Wednesday and go to Lake Region Friday.

NYA fell to 0-3 Monday after a 3-2 loss at Windham. The Panthers host Greely Friday and Cony Wednesday of next week.

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

Sidebar Elements


Yarmouth junior Chandler Smith fends off Cape Elizabeth junior Omar Khalidi during Saturday night’s contest. The Clippers enjoyed a 4-1 victory.

NYA’s Hannah Austin runs toward a third-place finish at last weekend’s meet at Twin Brook, which also included Greely, Poland and York. The Rangers came in first as a team.

Greely senior Katie Ventre pounds the ball with authority during the defending Class A state champion Rangers’ 3-0 win over Falmouth Monday night.


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