(Ed. Note: For the complete Deering-Scarborough girls’ soccer and Cheverus-Scarborough field hockey game stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

The postseason is upon us, even if many local squads are still winding down their regular seasons.

This past Saturday, the first championships of the 2013 fall sports season were bestowed and there will be many more to come.

Here’s a glimpse at what occurred last week and what’s on this week’s docket:

Golf

Most of the teams who made it to Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro for Saturday’s state championships were expected to be there. One that definitely wasn’t was Deering. In the preseason, longtime Rams coach Billy Goodman didn’t see much reason for optimism, but sure enough, Deering was among the best squads in the state on Oct. 12.

The Rams, who went 4-6 in the regular season, earned a trip to the Class A state match after a solid showing at the Southwestern Maine Activities Association qualifier last Monday. Deering had a team score of 346, which was good for the sixth and final berth from the conference (Falmouth won with a 324). The Rams were led by Will Barlock, who had a score of 77. Tyler Butler shot an 84, David Fowler an 88 and Ian Westphal a 97.

“Our scores came down all season and we were rewarded by qualifying,” Goodman said. “We were so psyched. It was like winning states. This team showed me things about coaching. They all got better. They seemed to like each other. They bought my kids birthday presents. They were great. I told them at the beginning of the season, if we won a match, we’d go to Friendly’s. We won four and they were close matches.”

Cheverus (despite an individual best round of 73 from Chris Billings) shot a 348 and was seventh and Portland came in eighth with a 349.

Saturday, at states, Deering tied Brunswick and Marshwood for ninth with a score of 353 (Falmouth won the title with a 316). The Rams’ top scorer was again Barlock, who shot an 80. Other scorers were Westphal (90), Fowler (91) and Butler (92).

“It would have been nice to have scores in the 80s, but I feel like we maxed out this season,” said Goodman. “We did everything we could. Every team has goals and we did far better than our goals this year.”

Deering’s Barlock and Butler, along with Cheverus’ Billings, will take part in the individual state championships Saturday at Natanis.

Boys’ soccer

All four city boys’ soccer teams are playoff-bound, it’s just a question of where they’ll end up in the standings.

Deering began the week first in the Western Class A Heal Points standings with a 9-2-1 mark, despite a 1-0 home loss to Scarborough last Tuesday. The Rams bounced back from that setback with a 2-0 win at Thornton Academy, as Stephen Ochan and Qutaiba Hassoon both scored. After going to Biddeford Thursday, Deering closes at home versus Sanford Tuesday.

Portland settled for a 1-1 home tie versus Gorham last week, as Yusef Yama had the goal and Bobby Brittingham made seven saves. The Bulldogs (7-2-2 and fourth in Western A) went to Westbrook Tuesday, host Windham Thursday and close at Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus extended its win streak to four last week with a 1-0 victory at South Portland and a 4-2 home win over Bonny Eagle. Andrei Vile had the goal and goalkeeper Charlie Mull made eight saves against the Red Riots. Mull, Jamie Biegel, Mackenzie Hoglund and Joe Smith had the goals versus the Scots. The Stags (8-2-1 and fifth in Western A) were at Noble Tuesday, host Westbrook Thursday and welcome Gorham in the finale Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, Waynflete improved to 7-2-1 and sixth after downing visiting Freeport, 2-0, and tying visiting Gray-New Gloucester, 1-1. In the win, Henry Cleaves and Elyse Bayizere had the goals. Bayizere also had an assist, as did Jack Weston. Milo Bellau had two saves for his fifth shutout. Khalid Suja had the goal in the tie. The Flyers were home against Sacopee Valley Monday, welcome Traip Wednesday, have a showdown at rival North Yarmouth Academy (which is undefeated) Friday and close at two-time defending Class B champion Falmouth Monday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, defending Class C champion Waynflete was 7-1-2 and fifth in the Western C Heals at press time, after a 2-0 win at Freeport last Tuesday, behind goals from Cat Johnson and Ella Millard. The Flyers were home with Sacopee Valley Monday, visit Traip Wednesday, have a home test versus NYA Friday and close at home against three-time defending Class B state champion Falmouth Monday of next week.

In Western A, Deering and Portland would be playoff teams with Cheverus and McAuley just falling short if the Heals at press time hold.

The Rams gave defending Class A champion Scarborough a scare last Wednesday, but lost, 2-1. Alexis Elowitch scored in the waning seconds to avert a shutout.

“Scarborough’s a phenomenal team, but we played well,” Elowitch said. “I hope this brings up our confidence. We played until the end and scored a late goal.”

“We played phenomenal,” Deering coach Kevin Olson said. “We played a solid game. It was all I could ask. We kept fighting to the end. I’m excited because of what we accomplished against a very well-respected team. They’re the state champs. We got a goal on them. We had some success with them. I’m very happy.”

Friday, Deering rallied to tie visiting Thornton Academy, 1-1, as Elowitch scored on a late header from Meghana Clere. The Rams (7-3-1 and eighth in Western A) go to McAuley Wednesday, host Biddeford in a key test Saturday and finish at Sanford Tuesday.

Portland lost, 5-0, at Gorham last Wednesday, then improved to 4-5-1 with a 2-0 home victory over McAuley Saturday. The Bulldogs (10th in the standings) hosted Marshwood Monday, welcome Westbrook Wednesday, play at powerhouse Windham Saturday and close at Biddeford Wednesday of next week.

McAuley fell to 4-8 after losses last week at Marshwood (10-0), Thornton Academy (13-0) and Portland (2-0). The Lions (14th in Western A, where 12 teams qualify) host Deering Wednesday and close at home with Westbrook Wednesday of next week.

Cheverus was the last team out at press time, sitting 13th with a 2-7-2 mark. Last week, the Stags settled for a 1-1 home draw with South Portland (Abby Goodrich had the goal) and downed host Bonny Eagle, 2-1. Cheverus is home against Noble Wednesday, visits Westbrook Friday and closes at Gorham Wednesday of next week.

Field hockey

Based on the Western A Heal Points at press time, just one city field hockey team, Cheverus, would qualify for the postseason, but two others, Deering and Portland, were still in the running.

The Stags are coming off a strong week which saw them edge visiting Sanford, 1-0, on Emily Michaud’s goal in the second overtime (goalie Libby DesRuisseaux made 16 saves), and tie host and defending regional champion Scarborough, 1-1. Meredith Willard scored early and Cheverus had some golden opportunities in overtime, but settled for the valuable tie.

“Amazing game,” said Cheverus senior standout Elyse Caiazzo. “It was a lot of fun. We went out and played our game. We didn’t get psyched out. We just went out like it was another game.”

“I’m so thrilled with the effort,” said Stags coach Amy McMullin. “We talked about how the outcome doesn’t matter. If we left everything on the field, we’d be happy win or lose. We were hoping for the win, but a tie is the next best thing.”

Cheverus (10-2-1 and fourth in Western A) closes the regular season at home Wednesday versus South Portland.

Deering began the week 13th at 4-8-1, but only 12 teams make the postseason in the region. The Rams blanked visiting Portland, 4-0, and fell at Sanford, 2-1, last week. In the win, Kaytlin DiBiase, Emily Krabbe, Amanda LeMoult and Mia Thurston all rattled the cage. Deering has a chance to ensure a playoff trip when it hosts Scarborough Wednesday. Even with a loss, the Rams hope the final Heals go their way.

Portland entered Tuesday’s finale versus visiting Marshwood at 3-10 and 14th. Like Deering, the Bulldogs could earn a spot with a victory. Portland was coming off a 4-0 loss at Deering and a 5-1 home setback to Gorham. Lauren McIntyre scored in the latter game.

McAuley was 0-13 and 17th after losing at home to Scarborough (13-0) and at South Portland (10-0). The Lions close at Thornton Academy Wednesday.

In Western C, Waynflete sat 0-11-1 and 13th (only nine squads qualify) entering its finale against visiting Poland Tuesday. Last week, the Flyers lost, 8-0, at NYA, 4-0 to visiting Wells and 2-1 to visiting Sacopee Valley.

Cross country

The penultimate weekend of the cross country regular season saw the Cheverus girls come in second to Massabesic in a meet at Gorham, which also included Thornton Academy. The Stags were led by individual winner Kiera Murray (18:28). Cheverus’ boys were third behind Gorham and Massabesic. Parker Montano was fourth individually (16:35).

Deering joined Biddeford and Sanford at Windham. The boys were second to the hosts, despite a 1-2 finish from Yahye Hussein (17:29) and Eid Sheikh (17:31). The girls came in third, as Phoebe Bell placed sixth (22:32).

McAuley joined Noble and South Portland at Scarborough, where the Lions were third. Adele Werner came in eighth (23:19.8).

Portland (with Marshwood and Westbrook) ran at Bonny Eagle. The boys were third, as Ben Allen was second individually (17:10). The girls were also third. Darcy Hinck finished ninth (21:29).

Waynflete joined Falmouth and Gray-New Gloucester at Greely, where the girls had the best individual, Sofia Canning (20:27), and came in third. The boys came in fourth (Julian Ireland placed 18th, 20:16).

The cross country regular season will come to a close this weekend, as Cheverus hosts a city meet against Deering, McAuley and Portland, while Waynflete takes part in the Western Maine Conference championship meet at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

The regional championships are Saturday, Oct. 26, at Twin Brook in Cumberland, which is also where the state meets will be held, Saturday, Nov. 2.

Volleyball

Cheverus’ volleyball team began the week 11th in the Class A Heals, but only 10 teams make the playoffs. The Stags fell to 5-5 after a 3-1 (22-25, 14-25, 25-21, 8-25) home loss to Biddeford last Tuesday. Cheverus has its home finale versus Cony Wednesday, plays at Kennebunk Friday, then closes the year with a trip Down East Saturday, to play Ellsworth and Mt. Desert Island.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Deering senior Alexis Elowitch collides in midair with a Scarborough attacker during the Rams’ 2-1 loss at the defending Class A champions last week.

Cheverus senior Elyse Caiazzo fires a shot during last week’s 1-1 tie at Scarborough.

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