(Ed. Note: For the complete Deering-Portland boys’ soccer game story, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The first fall week of the fall sports season reminded us that there are several strong teams in our midst and that the triumph figures to continue.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

In case anyone had doubts, Deering’s boys’ soccer team announced last week that it’s for real. The Rams rolled at Massabesic, 5-0, then made quite a statement with a 3-0 home victory over rival Portland. Against the Mustangs, Hany Ramadan scored three times, while Paulo DeMarco and Stephan Ochan also finished. After Jonathan Bujambi opened the scoring against the Bulldogs, Ochan put on a show, scoring on a 40-yard free kick late in the first half, then bettering himself in the second with the prettiest goal of the young season, a 35-yard left-footed blast on the move.

“It feels great,” said Ochan, who beat the Bulldogs for the first time. “It’s always great to win a Deering-Portland game. It means a little bit more.”

“It means a lot to these guys to be able to say we’re a very good team,” Rams coach Joel Costigan said. “In the past, I felt we had a really good team that could compete, but mentally, we couldn’t get it done. We got cards or stupid fouls. We’re limiting that, so far. We’re trying to prove we can play in different ways.”

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Deering was tested again Tuesday when undefeated Gorham came to town. The Rams then visit Noble Thursday, host Windham Saturday and play at Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

“We’re trying to improve all season,” Ochan said. “As long as we’re on the same page, we’ll do something great.”

“I’m still nervous,” Costigan said. “We have two big games coming up. Gorham’s always been our Kryptonite. Noble has a good coach and really good players. Every game I think will be challenging.”

Portland was coming off a 1-0 home loss to Scarborough and fell to 1-2 with the 3-0 setback at Deering.

“Deering is obviously for real,” said longtime Bulldogs coach Rocco Frenzilli. “They closed us down tonight. (Stephan) put on quite a show. I think he’s every bit as legitimate as we all knew. It was his night. He’s an absolute talent. We did what we thought we could do against him, but he hit perfect shots.”

Portland hosted Noble in a playoff rematch Tuesday. The Bulldogs play at Bonny Eagle Thursday, then host Thornton Academy Saturday and Massabesic Tuesday of next week.

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“We’ll build on this,” Frenzilli said. “It’s a long season. We’ll come back next week and see how it all shakes out. The parity in this league is what it is. We have to get used to it. We’ll be back.”

Cheverus gave new coach Colin Minte his first victory last Thursday, 1-0, at Marshwood on Andrei Vile’s goal. The Stags were home with Windham Tuesday, welcome Biddeford Thursday, go to two-time defending Class A champion Scarborough Saturday and play host to Sanford Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, Waynflete is off to another strong start. The Flyers opened with a 5-0 victory at Traip, then dominated visiting Fryeburg, 9-0. Against the Rangers, standout Harry Baker-Connick had three goals, while Christian Kabongo and Clancy Mitchell each added one. In the win over the Raiders, seven different players tickled the twine, as Mitchell had a hat trick and Baker-Connick, Cullen Bollinger, Christian Brooks, Willy Burdick (on a penalty kick), Kabongo and Ahmed Mohamed also scored. Waynflete was home with perennial powerhouse Falmouth Tuesday, visits Lake Region Thursday and plays host to longtime rival North Yarmouth Academy Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Deering’s girls’ soccer team has also impressed in a pleasant surprise sort of way. The Rams last week improved to 3-0 with home wins over over Massabesic (4-0) and Portland (1-0). Against the Mustangs, Cora Melcher and Micary Verville each had two goals. In the win over the Bulldogs, the difference was Ewa Varney’s penalty kick in the first half. Deering goes to Gorham Wednesday, hosts Noble Thursday and plays host to South Portland Monday.

Portland slipped to 1-3 after a rough week, which saw losses at Marshwood (6-1), Scarborough (2-1) and Deering (1-0). Madison Bolduc scored against the Hawks. Isabel Stehli had the goal in the loss to the Red Storm. The Bulldogs hope to get back on track Wednesday at Noble. Bonny Eagle pays a visit Friday.

Cheverus played visiting Marshwood to a scoreless tie Friday and entered the week 0-1-1. The Stags were at McAuley Monday, visit Windham Wednesday and welcome Biddeford Friday.

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McAuley evened its record at 1-1 Friday with a 2-1 win at Massabesic behind two goals from Ayla Tartre and 14 saves from Chelsea Rairdon. The Lions hosted Cheverus Monday, go to Biddeford Wednesday, welcome South Portland Friday and visit Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Two-time defending Class C champion Waynflete opened with a 2-2 home tie against Traip and a 2-1 home victory over Fryeburg. The Flyers got goals from Amelia Bertaska and Christian Rowe in the win. Waynflete was at Western A power Falmouth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes Lake Region Friday and goes to NYA Tuesday of next week.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey team continues to be a pleasant surprise. Last week, the Stags improved to 3-0 with a 4-1 home win over Biddeford and a 1-0 victory at Bonny Eagle. Against the Tigers, Becca Archer had two goals, while Hannah Abbott and Hattie Train both scored once. Train scored against the Scots, helping Cheverus avenge an upset loss from a year ago. The Stags were home with McAuley Tuesday, welcome Windham Thursday, play at Deering Monday and host Gorham Tuesday of next week.

Portland got off to a 2-0 start last Monday with a 7-2 home win over Windham (Georgia Drew, Lauren McIntyre and Taylor Sargent all scored twice, while Gabby Wagabaza also rattled the cage), then suffered its first loss, 3-1, at Sanford. Wagabaza scored in the setback. After hosting defending Western A champion Scarborough Monday, the Bulldogs play at South Portland Thursday before coming home Monday of next week to face Thornton Academy.

Deering got its first win last week, 4-0, over visiting Westbrook (Pisey Chhorn, McKenzie Cote, Kristin Francoeur and Rylie Turner all had goals), then fell to 1-2 with a 2-1 setback at Biddeford. Kaytlin DiBiase had the goal in that one. The Rams were home against Bonny Eagle Monday, go to McAuley Thursday and play host to Cheverus Monday of next week.

McAuley fell to 0-3 last week after 11-0 losses against Bonny Eagle and Windham. The Lions were at Cheverus Tuesday, host Deering Thursday and go to Gorham Monday.

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In Western C, Waynflete opened with a 7-0 loss at Yarmouth, then got its first victory since Oct. 2, 2012, when it edged visiting Sacopee, 1-0, in overtime, last Thursday, on Dana Peirce’s goal. The Flyers then fell to 1-2 Saturday with a 1-0 home loss to Traip. After going to NYA Monday, Waynflete hosts Wells Wednesday, visits Traip Friday and welcomes Greely Tuesday of next week.

Volleyball

Cheverus’ volleyball team was 0-4 at press time after dropping 3-0 decisions last week to Scarborough, Windham and Mt. Desert Island. The Stags sought their first victory Tuesday, but they had to face defending Class A champion Falmouth. After going to Thornton Academy Thursday, Cheverus is home against Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

Cheverus ran with Marshwood and Windham at South Portland, where the Stags boys came in first and the girls were second to the hosts. Parker Montano paced the boys with a runner-up finish (in 16 minutes, 58 seconds). Kaitlyn Dostie finished third (19:52) on the girls’ side.

Deering joined Gorham and Noble at Westbrook. The girls were second and the boys came in third. Yahya Hussein won the boys’ meet in 16:28. The girls were paced by Lucy Turnavicus (fourth, 21:54).

Portland ran with Massabesic and Scarborough at Biddeford. The Bulldogs girls were third. Darcy Hincks placed sixth individually (20:58). The boys came in fourth. Brad Ravenelle finished 15th (18:11).

McAuley (along with Bonny Eagle and Sanford) ran at Thornton Academy, where the Lions finished third, with Adele Werner placing sixth individually (23:20).

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This Friday, Cheverus joins Sanford at Westbrook at Scarborough, Deering (along with Bonny Eagle and South Portland) runs at Massabesic, McAuley joins Biddeford and Gorham and Marshwood and Portland runs with Thornton Academy and Windham at Noble.

In the Western Maine Conference, Waynflete joined Traip and Wells at Lake Region for its first meet. The girls won, while the boys came in second. The girls were led by Phoebe Colvin-Oehmig, who was the individual runner-up (19:33). The boys’ top finisher was Wilson Moore (sixth, 17:12). The Flyers next run at Greely Friday.

Golf

Deering’s golf team got in the win column last week, 7-6, over Portland. The Rams then lost, 13-0, to Scarborough to drop to 1-2. Deering was home against Cheverus Monday, plays at South Portland Wednesday, then welcomes Falmouth Monday of next week.

Cheverus also got its first win last week, 7.5-5.5, at South Portland, to improve to 1-2. The Stags were at Deering Monday, visit Portland Wednesday, and play at Scarborough Monday of next week.

Portland fell to 1-2 after losing to Deering (7-6) and Falmouth (11-2). The Bulldogs hosted Scarborough Monday, welcome Cheverus Wednesday and go to South Portland Monday of next week.

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

Sidebar Elements


Deering senior goalkeeper Anthony Russo comes out to tip the ball away from Portland junior Josh Irving during the teams’ battle Friday. The Rams prevailed, 3-0.

Deering senior Stephan Ochan (center) is mobbed by his teammates after one of his two highlight reel goals Friday night.


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