(Ed. Note: For the complete Portland-Thornton Academy and Waynflete-Falmouth boys’ soccer, Waynflete-Falmouth girls’ soccer and Cheverus-Scarborough and Portland-Deering field hockey 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

Cheverus and Portland’s boys’ soccer teams entered the week undefeated, even though both had two ties.

The Stags, the defending Class A state champions, opened with consecutive draws, then rattled off three wins in a row, including triumphs last week at Westbrook (1-0) and Noble (5-0) to improve to 3-0-2. An “own goal” was the difference at the Blue Blazes. In the win over the Knights, Will Peterson scored two goals, while Luc Dionne, Nik Hase and Mackenzie Hoglund also tickled the twine. Cheverus (fifth in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) was home against Windham Tuesday, hosts Thornton Academy Thursday, goes to Biddeford Saturday and has a playoff rematch at Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Portland had its chances, but settled for a 0-0 home tie against Thornton Academy last Tuesday.

“It is what it is, the old kissing your sister thing,” said longtime Bulldogs coach Rocco Frenzilli. “They’re a good team and we knew what to expect from them. All in all, I was just pleased with our effort.”

Portland then edged host Marshwood, 1-0, to improve to 3-0-2. In that one, El Shadai Ngandu had the goal. The Bulldogs (fourth in Class A South) hosted Massabesic Monday, go to Westbrook Thursday and welcome South Portland Tuesday of next week.

Deering got on track last week and evened its record at 2-2 with wins at Biddeford (3-1) and Sanford (2-1). Against the Spartans, Landry Gapangdwa and Paolo DeMarco scored. The Rams (14th in Class A South) hosted Bonny Eagle Monday, go to Gorham Thursday, visit Westbrook Saturday and welcome Windham Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete played perennial powerhouse Falmouth tough last Tuesday, but dropped a 1-0 decision. The Flyers had a great look late to pull even, but Ahmed Mohamed sent a shot high.

“We learned a lot and we got better,” said longtime Waynflete coach Brandon Salway. “These games are so valuable for us. They make a difference later on. It’s a no-lose situation if you come out healthy. Overall, it was a pretty good effort.”

The Flyers bounced back and improved to 3-1 Thursday with a 9-0 victory at Lake Region, as eight different players scored goals. Christian Brooks had two, while Mohamed, Abel Alemayo, Cullen Bollinger, Aaron Lee, Alex Saade, Tommy Silk and Jack Weston each scored one. Waynflete (seventh in the region) had a showdown at rival North Yarmouth Academy Monday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes defending Class B champion Yarmouth Friday, then visits Poland Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Deering’s girls’ soccer team is quietly putting together another strong season. Last Tuesday, the Rams blanked visiting Biddeford, 4-0, to extend its win streak to three, then settled for a 2-2 draw at home with Sanford. Micary Verville had two goals and Simone Lauture and Ewka Varney one each in the victory. Lauture and Meghana Clere scored in the tie. Deering (seventh in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) was at Bonny Eagle Monday, hosts Gorham Friday and visits Noble Monday.

Portland won its first two games, then dropped three in a row, including setbacks at Thornton Academy (3-0) and at home to Marshwood (2-0) last week. After going to Massabesic Wednesday, the Bulldogs (ninth in the region) welcome Westbrook Friday.

Cheverus settled for a scoreless home tie versus Westbrook last Wednesday, then dominated visiting Noble, 7-1, Friday to improve to 2-2-1 (and 11th in Class A South). In the victory, Mackenzie Johnston scored twice, while Meredith Cilley, Katie Gordon, Margaret Keating, Kaylin Malmquist and Kate Sessler also had goals. The Stags visit two-time defending Class A champion Windham Wednesday and play at Thornton Academy Friday.

McAuley dropped to 0-5 and 17th in the region after losses last week at Sanford (8-0) and at home to Biddeford (5-1). Zoe Mazur had the goal against the Tigers. The Lions host Scarborough Wednesday and play at South Portland Saturday.

In Class C South, Waynflete gave visiting Falmouth a tough game last Tuesday, but surrendered a goal in each half and lost, 2-0. 

“I thought we played well early, then bunkered up,” Flyers coach Todd Dominski said. “They’re a good team, so I’m proud of how my girls played today. We won’t see a team like this after today. Playing teams like this helps us get better.”

Waynflete (2-1 and third in the region) was home with NYA Tuesday, visits Lake Region Wednesday, plays at Old Orchard Beach Friday and welcomes Poland Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey team is no longer flying under the radar. Last week, the Stags accomplished something (beating Scarborough) that no team in the Southwestern Maine Activities Association had done since 2010, to propel themselves to the top of the Class A South Heal Points standings. Before meeting Scarborough, the Stags had to hold off visiting Sanford, 1-0, on a goal from Colleen Slattery. Cheverus had never beaten the Red Storm in the regular season, but got early goals from freshman Sophia Pompeo and senior Abby Ford and held on to prevail, 2-1, snapping the Red Storm’s 66-game league unbeaten streak in the process.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Ford said. “It means so much. It’s the game we waited for all year. We had a lot of confidence. We came into this like any other game and warmed up like any other game. We were just ready to end their streak and come out and win and keep our perfect record.”

“It was awesome to break their streak,” said Pompeo. “It’s an amazing feeling. We just put it all on the field. This gives us so much confidence to keep going in our season.”

“We knew the pressure was on them,” added Cheverus coach Amy Ashley. “We felt no pressure. We wanted to play our game. We decided to leave everything on the field.”

The Stags improved to 7-0 with a 5-0 home victory over Noble Friday, as Pompeo and Becca Archer both had two goals and Caroline Baker finished with one. Cheverus was at Portland Tuesday, welcomes Marshwood Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and goes to Massabesic Monday.

Portland and Deering squared off in a memorable contest last Monday. While the game needed all 60 minutes and then some to be decided, it took a backseat to a cancer fundraiser to honor Shelly DiBiase, mother of Rams senior Kaytlin DiBiase (and former Ram Kiana DiBiase). Shelly DiBiase was given flowers from Kaytlin DiBiase in a pregame ceremony and best of all, announced that she was cancer-free.

“It’s amazing, I’m really lucky,” DiBiase said. “I know some of the of the girls on Portland and obviously I know the girls on Deering. They’ve been great support. Right before the game, I got the call with a clean bill of health.”

On the field, the rivals put on a show. Fittingly, Kaytlin DiBiase scored the game’s first goal, but Portland answered behind goal-scoring machine Lauren McIntyre to pull even, then McIntyre set up senior Kaylyn Madore with 15:50 to go for a 2-1 lead. DiBiase produced the equalizer three minutes later, but with 10:56 remaining, McIntyre struck again for a 3-2 Bulldogs’ advantage. With 1:34 to play, Rams senior Kerry Wells found a way to finish out of a scrum to make it 3-3, but just when overtime appeared imminent, McIntyre got possession on the ensuing faceoff, raced in and completed her hat trick, putting the Bulldogs ahead with 1:23 showing. Deering had a final chance when it earned a penalty corner as time expired, but Portland goalie Gianna Gaudet got a piece of her shoulder in front of the final shot to deflect it over the cage and Portland held on for dear life, 4-3.

“I wanted to win for me and my goalie,” McIntyre said. “(Gianna) made amazing saves. I went out and thought, ‘I’m going to score, they’re not going to take the ball from me and I’m going to put it in the net.’ I looked at my teammates and saw them get a little discouraged, but I wanted to do it for the team.”

“It was really stressful, but I have a good defense behind me,” Gaudet said. “Deering’s not a team to take lightly. It was really special to participate in this. Shelly’s like my Mom. It’s really nice to have this game in her honor.”

“We survived,” added Bulldogs coach Beth Arsenault. “I’d rather not win like that. I’m glad we won, don’t get me wrong, but that was scary.”

Portland then fell to 3-4 and 11th in the Class A South Heals after 2-1 losses to visiting Gorham (in overtime) and at Bonny Eagle. Taylor Sargent had the goal against the Scots. The Bulldogs hosted Cheverus Tuesday and play at Windham Thursday.

Deering was disappointed by the close loss to Portland last Monday.

“I would have liked the outcome to be different, but it was a great game,” said Rams coach Liz Koharian. “I wish we’d won. It was a hard-fought. It could have gone either way.”

Deering then dropped to 2-5 and ninth after a 4-0 loss at Sanford and a 3-0 home setback to Massabesic. The Rams were at Noble Monday, host Gorham Thursday and play at Marshwood Monday.

The McAuley-Waynflete co-op squad fell to 0-5 and 14th in Class B South after losses last week at Old Orchard Beach (2-1, in overtime) and at home against Traip Academy (3-0). Molly Barr had the Flying Lions’ goal. CMW was home versus Wells Tuesday, goes to Sacopee Valley Thursday, Traip Friday and NYA Monday.

Volleyball

Deering’s first-year varsity volleyball team would be in the playoffs if they started today. Last week, the Rams lost a tough five-set decision at NYA, then they improved to 3-2 with a 3-1 (13-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22) victory at South Portland. Avery Donovan had four blocks and two kills and Kaylee Helmick finished with three kills. Deering (10th in the Class A Heal Points standings at press time) was home with Thornton Academy Tuesday, goes to Cheverus Thursday, then meets Wells Saturday and again Tuesday of next week.

Portland fell to 1-4 and 14th in Class A (12 teams make the postseason) after 3-0 losses at Thornton Academy (8-25, 7-25, 20-25) and at home to NYA (20-25, 18-25, 20-25). The Bulldogs went to Lake Region Tuesday, go to South Portland Thursday, visit Windham Saturday and play host to South Portland Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus dropped to 0-6 and 16th after at 3-0 home loss to Yarmouth (4-25, 9-25, 17-25) and a 3-0 setback at Greely (16-25, 19-25, 15-25). The Stags host Bonny Eagle Wednesday and welcome Deering Friday.

Cross country

Deering hosted Bonny Eagle, Massabesic and South Portland in a meet last weekend and the Rams were second to the Red Riots in the boys’ meet and runner-up to the Mustangs in the girls’ competition. Deering was paced individually by Abdi Hassan, who won the boys’ meet in 17 minutes, 36 seconds. Lucy Tumavicus was fifth for the girls (21:29).

Cheverus had a home meet as well, versus Sanford, Scarborough and Westbrook. The boys were third. Josh Veroneau finished sixth individually in 17:57. The girls didn’t score as a team. Rosie Train was eighth individually. 

Portland welcomed Noble, Thornton Academy and Windham. The boys were second and Brad Ravenelle was runner-up individually in 17:32.10. The girls placed third as a team. Raven Bradenday was sixth individually in 23:32.78.

McAuley joined Biddeford and Gorham at Marshwood. The Lions were fourth as Sonni Hackett placed 10th individually in 25:33.

In the Western Maine Conference, Waynflete joined Cape Elizabeth, Lake Region and Old Orchard Beach at Greely. The boys were third. Wilson Moore was fifth individually (18:38). The girls were also third. Abby Pipkin came in 11th (22:55).

This weekend, Cheverus (with Bonny Eagle and Noble) runs at Biddeford, Deering joins Marshwood and Scarborough at Thornton Academy, McAuley (with Massabesic and Windham) competes at Westbrook, Portland joins Gorham and Sanford at South Portland and Waynflete (with Cape Elizabeth, Old Orchard Beach and Sacopee Valley) runs at York.

Golf

Cheverus’ golf team stayed undefeated last week with wins over Deering (9.5-3.5) and Portland (11.5-1.5) to improve to 6-0.

The Rams followed up their loss to Cheverus with a 9.5-3.5 victory over South Portland to even their record at 3-3.

Portland edged defending Class A champion Scarborough, 7-6, then lost to Cheverus (11.5-1.5) to fall to 3-3.

Waynflete’s first match resulted in a 3.5-3.5 tie against Old Orchard Beach. The Flyers then beat Sacopee Valley, 5-2, and lost to NYA, 7-0, to fall to 1-1-1.

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

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Prior to last Monday’s Deering-Portland field hockey game, Rams senior Kaytlin DiBiase gives flowers to her mother, Shelly. The game was a cancer fundraiser in honor of Shelly DiBiase, who learned earlier that day that she was cancer-free.

Portland goalkeeper Taylor Crosby makes a save during Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to Marshwood.

Cheverus celebrates one of its two goals in last week’s 2-1 upset victory at defending Class A champion Scarborough. The Stags stayed undefeated and snapped the Red Storm’s 66-game league unbeaten streak in the process.

Waynflete’s John Veroneau competes at last week’s five-team cross country meet at Greely. Veroneau placed 11th individually and the Flyers were third as a team.

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