(Ed. Note: For the complete Scarborough-Cheverus field hockey and Cape Elizabeth-Falmouth and Scarborough-Falmouth volleyball game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

Your favorite fall sports team has either played half of its regular season schedule, or is about to reach that milepost.

As the weather grows cooler, the games get more important and after some memorable results last week, there’s plenty on tap worth keeping an eye on.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough remains a top contender in Class A South boys’ soccer. Last week, the Red Storm edged visiting South Portland, 2-1, and blanked visiting Sanford, 4-0, to improve to 4-0-1 and second in the Heal Points standings at press time. Josh Morrissey and Jake Kacer scored to help Scarborough come from behind to beat the Red Riots. In the win over the Spartans, Michael Barrett, Matt Caron, Garrett King and Matt Stracqualursi had the goals. The Red Storm were at Biddeford Thursday, host Cheverus in a regional final rematch Tuesday and play host to Portland Thursday of next week.

South Portland almost beat Scarborough for the first time last week, but despite Sadiki Stewart’s early goal, the Red Riots lost, 2-1. South Portland then improved to 3-2-1 with a 5-2 home victory over Biddeford Tuesday behind Kervens Anthoine’s hat trick. Ahmed Suja and Khalid Suja also scored. The Red Riots (ninth in Class A South) go to Portland Tuesday and host Westbrook Thursday.

Cape Elizabeth fell to 3-3 after recent losses at Falmouth (4-0) and at home to Greely (5-4, in overtime). Connor Thoreck had a hat trick and John O’Connor also scored against the Rangers. The Capers (sixth in Class B South) host Lake Region Friday and welcome defending Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday.

Greater Portland Christian School held off Vinalhaven last Wednesday, 3-2, behind two goals from Jeremiah Hammond and another from Ethan Spaulding. The Lions then settled for a 0-0 tie at Rangeley and fell to 4-1-1 and third in Class D South after Tuesday’s 1-0 home loss to Rangeley. GPCS is at Buckfield Friday and hosts Chop Point Tuesday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth stretched its win streak to three after a 1-0 win at Falmouth last Friday. Mariah Deschino had the goal and Tessa Goldstein stood tall in net. The Capers then lost, 1-0, at Greely in a regional final rematch Monday to fall to 4-2. Cape Elizabeth (third in the Class B South Heals) goes to Lake Region Friday and hosts Yarmouth Tuesday.

Scarborough extended its win streak to three and improved to 4-0-1 after a 2-0 home win over South Portland Saturday. Bryce Nitchman and Lauren Sabatino both scored. The Red Storm (first in Class A South) were at McAuley Wednesday, host Biddeford Monday and visit Cheverus Wednesday of next week.

South Portland was 1-4 and 12th in Class A South after a 1-0 home win over Bonny Eagle and a 2-0 loss at Scarborough. Callie O’Brien had the goal in the victory. The Red Riots went to Biddeford Wednesday, host McAuley Saturday and welcome Portland Wednesday of next week.

GPCS was 2-6 and sixth in Class D South after a losses at Vinalhaven (4-0), Rangeley (7-3) and Buckfield (9-0), a 3-1 home win over Valley and a 4-1 home loss to Rangeley. The Lions play at Buckfield Friday.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s field hockey team finally met its match in league play last Wednesday. The Red Storm took a five-year, 66-game regular season unbeaten streak into a home tilt with Cheverus and in a battle of unbeatens, fell a goal short. The Stags jumped to a quick 2-0 lead. Lily Nygren got a goal back for Scarborough late in the first half, but Scarborough couldn’t earn the equalizer and for the first time since Oct. 2, 2010 (2-1 at South Portland), the Red Storm suffered a setback in the regular season.

“They capitalized on opportunities and we got behind and had to play catch-up,” said Scarborough coach Kerry Mariello. “We did a darn good job of coming back and giving the maximum effort we needed. The second half was a fight. We had some chances. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t. I’m pretty proud of how we played in this game. It’s a game we needed to move forward. We’ll see them in the end.

“What can I complain about? Eventually a streak will end. You don’t even notice when it’s happening. You just strive to win and we’ve been successful at the end of games. What a great feeling to be a part of this. I can’t take the credit. It’s all the girls, for sure.”

The Red Storm began a new streak Friday with a 4-3 overtime win at Windham to improve to 6-1 (second to Cheverus in the Class A South Heals). Nygren had three goals and Grace Bailer produced the game-winner. After playing at Thornton Academy Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), Scarborough hosts Westbrook Monday and goes to Biddeford Wednesday.

South Portland’s skid hit six after recent losses to visiting Bonny Eagle (1-0), host Westbrook (4-2) and visiting Windham (4-1). Sophia Cummings and Bonge Lako each scored against the Blue Blazes. Lako had the goal in the loss to the Eagles. The Red Riots (1-6 and 13th in Class A South) went to Biddeford Thursday, host Thornton Academy Monday and welcome Sanford Wednesday.

Cape Elizabeth was still seeking its first win at press time. The Capers fell to 0-9 and 12th in Class B South with recent losses to visiting Lake Region (3-0), host Poland (5-0) and visiting Yarmouth (4-0). Cape Elizabeth was home with defending Class B champion York Thursday, visits Kennebunk Saturday, goes to Yarmouth Monday and visits Falmouth Wednesday.

Volleyball

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class A volleyball champion appears to be hitting its stride at the exact time the Capers did so a year ago en route to the championship. Last Thursday, Cape Elizabeth went to vengeance-minded Falmouth for a state rematch and prevailed in four sets, (25-23, 25-18, 12-25, 25-21). 

Katie Connolly had 10 kills and six service points.

“We lost our minds in the third and had to pick it up in the fourth,” said Connolly. “We had to do it for each other and be a team. We figured it out.”

Monika Scheindel finished with nine service points and six kills.

“We had our heads in it and we were really pumped up,” Scheindel said. “It was a lot of fun. We got a little cocky in the third set, but we came back and played disciplined defense.”

Maddie Bowe had seven kills in the final set and wound up with a dozen (to go with five blocks).

“(The Yachtsmen) have strong net players,” Bowe said. “It was hard to get kills.”

Tess Haller had 11 kills, nine service points and six blocks. Maggie Dadmun had 12 kills in the fourth game alone and 36 for the match.

“We needed this match,” said Cape Elizabeth coach Sarah Boeckel. “We wanted it and I love that we wanted it. We remembered we know how to play volleyball.”

Tuesday, the Capers made it four wins in a row and improved to 4-2 with a 3-0 (25-5, 25-14, 25-21) home victory over Cony. After hosting Gorham Thursday, Cape Elizabeth (fifth in the Class A Heal Points standings at press time) visits Greely Tuesday and welcomes Scarborough Thursday of next week.

Scarborough blanked visiting Gorham last Thursday (25-18, 25-20, 25-12), then improved to 5-1 Tuesday with a marathon five-set home win over Falmouth (19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13). 

“It was really fun,” said Kacey Foerster, who had 14 kills and 13 service points. “I think each team played really well, but we pulled it out. I feel like we had more spirit on the court. We always cheered and kept each other up. When we’re on the court, we have fun. That’s what separates us.”

“I think our team just has really good chemistry,” said Taylor Marinko, who added 10 kills and a dozen service points. “We know we have to keep our heads up and encourage each other. It’s fun to play these matches. It’s tough competition. It comes down to who’s more mentally tough. We have so much talent on the team. We’re all supportive.”

“If you’d told me we’d have this record, I wouldn’t have believed it, but coming into the year, I felt this group is special,” added Red Storm coach Jon Roberts. “They work well together. I can bring someone in to hold down the fort. I haven’t had such a deep bench ever. A lot of girls play. We rotated through 14 people. That’s pretty cool.”

Scarborough (first in Class A) was at Cony Thursday, welcomes defending Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday and goes to Cape Elizabeth Thursday of next week.

South Portland was 2-3 and 12th in Class A at press time after a 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 20-25, 22-25) home loss to Deering and a 3-1 (25-15, 17-25, 25-11, 25-18) home victory over NYA. The Red Riots hosted Portland Thursday, visit Portland Tuesday of next week, then play at Biddeford two days later. 

Cross country

Scarborough’s powerhouse cross country teams continued to dominate last week, beating host Cheverus as well as Sanford and Westbrook. The boys had the top three finishers in Andrew Sholl (16:48), Colin Tardiff (16:57) and Connor Doherty (16:58). The girls placed Bethany Sholl first (20:17).

South Portland ran with Bonny Eagle and Massabesic and Deering. The Red Riots boys were first, as Gavin Damian-Loring (17:57) and Xander Keiter (18:03) were second and third, respectively. The girls were fourth as a team. Delphi Bourassa came in sixth (21:30).

Cape Elizabeth joined Lake Region, Old Orchard Beach and Waynflete at Greely. The boys came in second as Jared Duperre was fourth (18:04). The girls also came in second. Liv Palma placed third individually in 21:04.

This weekend, Scarborough joins Deering and Marshwood at Thornton Academy, South Portland hosts Gorham, Portland and Sanford and Cape Elizabeth (with Old Orchard Beach, Sacopee Valley and Waynflete) runs at York.

Golf

Cape Elizabeth’s golf team remained undefeated at press time. The Capers enjoyed 7-0 wins over Poland and Old Orchard Beach to improve to 8-0. Entering play Monday, Cape Elizabeth had five of the top eight ranked players in the conference in regards to average score to par.

Defending Class A champion Scarborough edged Falmouth, 7-6, last Thursday, then fell to 4-3 Tuesday after a 9-4 loss to Cheverus.

South Portland fell to 0-6 after losses to Deering (9.5-3.5) and Portland (11-2).

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

Sidebar Elements

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Scarborough’s Kristen Levesque gives chase as Cheverus’ Hannah Abbott plays the ball up the field during the Red Storm’s 2-1 home loss to the Stags last week.

Cape Elizabeth’s Sam Feenstra heads for a fourth-place finish at last week’s meet at Greely. The Capers were second as a team to the Rangers.

Scarborough junior Caroline Goodwin exults after a winning point during the Red Storm’s 3-2 win over Falmouth Tuesday night.