(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Yarmouth boys’ soccer, Cape Elizabeth-Yarmouth girls’ soccer and Cape-Elizabeth-Yarmouth and Scarborough-Thornton Academy field hockey game stories, see theforecaster.net)

Autumn is definitely upon us and the games are taking on greater importance.

Local squads remain very competitive in all sports and look to keep winning as the stretch runs nears.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough’s boys’ soccer team blanked host Biddeford last Thursday, 6-0, then got a measure of revenge from last year’s playoff ouster with a 4-2 home victory over defending Class A champion Cheverus Tuesday night. Against the Stags, all the scoring came in a wild first half. Josh Morrissey and Jake Kacer scored early and Matt Caron put the Red Storm ahead for good. Sam Jacobs scored just before halftime and Scarborough put the clamps on defensively in the second half to secure the win. The Red Storm (6-0-1 and second to Thornton Academy in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) hosted Portland Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and go to to Westbrook Tuesday.

South Portland settled for a scoreless tie at Portland Tuesday and is now 3-2-2 and eighth in Class A South. The Red Riots hosted Westbrook Thursday, welcome Windham Saturday and play host to Thornton Academy Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth fell to 3-4 and 10th in Class B South after a 5-1 home loss to Yarmouth Tuesday. The Capers fell behind early, 2-0, got a goal on a free kick from Connor Thoreck, then surrendered three more goals in the second half.

“I think we did a lot of things we wanted to do, but we had a difficult time on set pieces,” said Capers coach Ben Raymond. “We had some marking issues. It’s not necessarily a skill or effort thing. It’s a lack of experience thing that we’re continuing to try to work out.” 

Cape Elizabeth was home with Lake Region Thursday, visits Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and plays host to Falmouth Tuesday.

Greater Portland Christian School lost, 5-0, at Buckfield last week, then improved to 5-2-1 and third in Class D South after a 7-0 home win over Chop Point Tuesday. Jeremiah Hammond had two goals and three assists. Teddy Lane and Ethan Spaulding both had two goals. The Lions visit A.R. Gould Friday, host Pine Tree Academy Monday, visit A.R. Gould Tuesday and play at Islesboro Wednesday.

Girls’ soccer

Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ soccer team, the reigning Western B champion, improved to 5-2 and fifth in the Class B South Heal Points standings after a 2-1 home win over Yarmouth Tuesday. Kate Breed scored twice in the first half and goalkeeper Tessa Goldstein and the Capers’ defense held on for dear life down the stretch.

“A 2-0 lead is pretty scary,” said Breed. “We knew Yarmouth was a really good side. We knew we had to go into defensive mode.”

“I think this helps us out in Heal Points,” said Goldstein. “We’re keeping Yarmouth behind us.”

“Credit Yarmouth,” added Cape Elizabeth coach Craig Fannan. “They don’t give you a second. When they smell blood, they go after it. It’s hard to defend against them.”

The Capers were at Lake Region Thursday and visit Falmouth Tuesday.

Scarborough extended its win streak to five and its unbeaten streak to seven Monday with a 3-0 home victory over Biddeford. Aly Atherton, Elise O’Reilly and Jilian Ware all scored. The 6-0-1 Red Storm (ranked first in Class A South) went to Cheverus Wednesday, play at Portland Friday and welcome Westbrook Wednesday of next week.

South Portland has already eclipsed last year’s win total. Last week, the Red Riots improved to 3-4 and 13th in the region with wins at Biddeford (2-1, in overtime) and at home over McAuley (6-3). Paige Fleming had the OT goal at the Tigers. Callie O’Brien also scored. O’Brien had two goals versus the Lions, while Mary Cronin, Victoria Nixon, Abby Richardson and Juliana Selser all had one. South Portland hosted Portland Wednesday, goes to Westbrook Friday and visits Thornton Academy Wednesday of next week.

GPCS fell to 2-7 and sixth in Class D South after a recent 5-0 loss at Buckfield. The Lions host Pine Tree Academy Monday and welcome Highview Christian Wednesday.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s field hockey team has bounced back nicely from its lone loss. Last Thursday, the Red Storm went to Thornton Academy and eked out a 2-1 win. Lily Nygren scored early and Kristen Levesque added a second goal. The Golden Trojans pulled within a goal, then had a shot hit the post on a penalty corner after time expired and then, and only then, could Scarborough exhale.

“It’s a great feeling to win,” said Levesque. “It was definitely nervewracking. We played a great game and they did too.”

“It was definitely a heart-race,” said defensive standout Emma Hall. “We knew we needed to shine. We kept our sticks down and we knew we could get it out. It was a close shot. It’s awesome. It’s always great to win here. It’s a really good atmosphere to play in. It’s great to walk away with a win. It’s a big confidence booster for us.”

“It’s a turning moment type of game,” added Scarborough coach Kerry Mariello. “I was expecting a game like this, no doubt. I was glad we brought the energy we brought. I’m glad we capitalized on their homefield.”

Monday, the Red Storm improved to 8-1 and first in the Class A South Heal Points standings after a 3-1 home win over Westbrook behind three goals from Nygren. After going to Biddeford Wednesday, Scarborough hosts South Portland Friday and welcomes Portland Tuesday.

South Portland’s skid hit eight after recent losses at Biddeford (4-3) and at home to Thornton Academy (7-0). Sophia Cummings, Maddie Hasson and Cierra Mullen scored against the Tigers. The Red Riots (1-8 and 13th in Class A South) were home with Sanford Wednesday, go to Scarborough Friday and host Noble Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth fell to 0-12 and 12th in Class B South after recent losses at home to York (10-0), at Kennebunk (1-0) and at Yarmouth (5-1). Taylor Young had the goal against the Clippers.

“(The girls have) been awesome,” first-year Capers coach Maura Bisogni said. “We’re obviously having a rebuilding season, but the girls get better and show up to play and that’s inspiring. It’s a special group. They haven’t gotten negative or down. The seniors have been great leaders. The underclassmen have gotten playing time. It’s been fun.”

Cape Elizabeth was at Falmouth Wednesday and closes at North Yarmouth Academy Wednesday of next week.

Volleyball

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class A state champion volleyball team is hitting its stride. The Capers blanked visiting Gorham (25-15, 25-20, 25-18), then avenged an earlier loss with a four-set (25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 25-15) win at Greely Tuesday to make it six victories in a row. Against the Rams, Maggie Dadmun had 33 assists, Maddie Bowe added 10 kills and Lydia Brenneman had 15 digs. Cape Elizabeth (third in the Class A Heal points standings at press time) was home with Scarborough Thursday and goes to Thornton Academy Tuesday.

Scarborough extended its win streak to five with a 3-0 win at Cony last Thursday and a palpitating 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 17-25, 15-13) home victory over defending Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday. The Red Storm (7-1 and first in Class A) played at Cape Elizabeth Thursday and have a home showdown versus Greely Tuesday.

South Portland blanked visiting Portland last week (25-22, 25-18, 25-19), then improved to 4-3 and 13th in Class A after a 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-16) win at Portland Tuesday. The Red Riots went to Biddeford Thursday and host Windham Tuesday.

Cross country

Scarborough’s cross country team joined Deering and Marshwood for a meet at Thornton Academy last weekend. The boys were first as a team and produced the top three individuals in Colin Tardiff (16:40), Connor Doherty (16:44) and Andrew Sholl (16:49). The girls finished first as well, as Bethany Sholl (19:46) and Samantha Saraceno (20:08) were the top two individuals.

South Portland hosted Gorham, Portland and Sanford. The Red Riots won the girls’ race, thanks in part to first-place individual Serena McKenzie (17:40). The boys were second as Gavin Damian-Loring finished second individually (15:16). Xander Keiter (15:21) placed third.   

Cape Elizabeth joined Old Orchard Beach, Sacopee Valley and Waynflete at York. The girls came in first behind individual champion Sam Feenstra (20:16). The boys were second as Jared Duperre placed sixth individually (17:41) and Arsen Scheindel placed seventh (17:58). 

This weekend, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and South Portland will run at the Festival of Champions in Belfast.

Golf

Cape Elizabeth’s Lauren Schonewolf and Mia Spencer qualified for the girls’ state match after strong showings at the qualifier Monday. Schonewolf shot an 84 and Spencer finished with a 90. Scarborough’s Elizabeth Lacognata (88) also qualified.

The team regular season is winding down and Cape Elizabeth continues to shine. Last week, the Capers blanked Waynflete, 7-0. Tuesday, Cape Elizabeth improved to 9-0 with a 7-0 win over Wells.

Scarborough, the defending Class A champion, beat South Portland last week, 8-5. Tuesday, the Red Storm improved to 6-3 with a 12-1 win over Deering.

South Portland lost, 9-4, at Cheverus Tuesday to fall to 0-9.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Cape Elizabeth’s Owen Thoreck battles Yarmouth’s Chris Pidden for the ball during the Capers’ 5-1 home loss Tuesday night.

Cape Elizabeth’s Sierra Aceto and Yarmouth’s Katie Clemmer go for a header during the Capers’ 2-1 win Tuesday.

Scarborough senior Emma Hall takes a swing at the ball during the Red Storm’s 2-1 win at Thornton Academy last week.