MALE:

MATT CARON, Senior—Soccer

  • Class A South, all-region team

  • SMAA first-team

Caron used his legs, head and his powerful arms to steer Scarborough within a whisper of another state title this fall.

Caron came to Scarborough in the fifth grade as a budding soccer and hockey star. He swung up to the state champion Red Storm boys’ soccer varsity team as a freshman, then was a steady contributor to a state champion as a sophomore, a key cog and a second-team league all-star on a regional runner-up as a junior and this fall, he came up big time and again as Scarborough got back to the Class A state final, only to lose to Lewiston by a goal.

This season, Caron scored 11 goals and had 10 assists, which some of those coming in the most unorthodox of ways, from his powerful throw-in from the sideline. One of those throws led to an assist on the first goal of the season in a 4-0 victory at Deering. Another proved to be the Red Storm’s final goal of the year, against Cheverus in a revenge game in the regional final where Scarborough reversed last year’s result and prevailed, 2-0, thanks in large part to a Caron throw that got past the Cheverus goalkeeper. 

Caron also had the tying goal in a 2-1 come-from-behind win over South Portland, the eventual game-winner in a regular season victory over Cheverus, a goal and two assists versus Windham and a goal and an assist (on a throw-in, of course) in a semifinal round playoff victory over Falmouth. 

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Caron almost had the tying goal late in the state final, but after running into the Lewiston goalkeeper, he was given a yellow card and had to miss 10 critical minutes as the Red Storm fell just short.

“It was a great season overall,” Caron said. “I think this team stacked up with the championship teams I was on. Every year is different, but the coaches are so good to us. They bring out our best. I wouldn’t be half the player I am if I went to another school.”

Caron’s tenacity and understanding of the sport have taken him a long way.

“I pride myself on my hard work,” Caron said. “I read the game and go where the ball’s going to be. I don’t like to lose.”

Caron is playing center on the defending Class A champion Scarborough boys’ hockey team and also plays premier soccer with Seacoast. He’s given back to the community as well by coaching younger kids. He wants to play soccer in college and is in the process of selecting a school.

We haven’t heard the last of Matt Caron, Scarborough’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year. His play in a Red Storm uniform elevated him into the pantheon of program all-time greats.

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Coach Mark Diaz’s comment: “Matt competes as hard as anyone I’ve ever coached. He’s extremely unselfish and played any position we needed to help us be successful. He’s a very gifted athlete who has a high soccer IQ. Honestly, he’s the type of player who inspires his teammates to play at their highest level.”

Prior winners:

2014 Drew Kane (golf)

2013 Ben Greenberg (football)

2012 Dillon Russo (football)

2011 Nick Morris (cross country)

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2010 Mike Cyr (football)

2009 Trevor Hoxsie (soccer)

2008 Ian Philbrick (soccer)

2007 Nate Gove (soccer)

2006 Jack Snyder (golf)

2005 Derek Poulin (soccer)

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2004 Brad Carlson (soccer)

2003 Tim Waterhouse (cross country)

2002 Travis Hitchcock (football)

2001 Nial DeMena (football)

FEMALE:

EMILY HANSON, Senior -Volleyball

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  • SMAA first-team

  • Captain

Hanson lives and breathes volleyball and was rewarded for her devotion with a storybook ending to her high school career.

Hanson grew up in Scarborough playing soccer before discovering volleyball as an eighth grader and she was immediately hooked.

“I loved it right away,” Hanson said. “I love that everyone can touch the ball. One touch, one pass can change everything. I fell in love with playing defense. I love the people who play. They’re all very supportive.”

Hanson swung up to the varsity team as a freshman and became a full-time varsity player as a sophomore, as the favored Red Storm dropped a painful four-set decision to Falmouth in the Class A state final. Hanson emerged as an elite defensive specialist as a junior, but Scarborough let a 2-1 lead slip away in an agonizing five-set loss to eventual champion Cape Elizabeth in the quarterfinals.

The Red Storm were up and down in 2015, but Hanson was a constant, giving up her body to make jawdropping saves, serving with great accuracy and keeping her teammates poised, focused and hungry.

For the season, Hanson had 20 kills and a team-leading 55 aces, 167 service points, 235 digs and 377 positive service receptions.

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Scarborough went just 9-5 in the regular season, but did the Red Storm ever flip the switch for the playoffs, surviving Biddeford in a five-set prelim, then downing Thornton Academy in four sets before upsetting defending champion Cape Elizabeth in four sets in the semifinals. In that match, Hanson’s steadiness and ability to keep the ball in play helped turn the tide.

Scarborough then met favored Greely for the championship and despite dropping the first set, the Red Storm roared back to win it all for the first time. Hanson time and again dove to the floor to deny the Rangers’ best hitters from finishing points and as a result, Scarborough went on to make history.

“I was determined to win a state championship before I graduated,” Hanson said. “I wanted to make this my year. We had an amazing season. We overcame so many challenges. We put it all together.”

Hanson also plays club and beach volleyball, is a member of National Honor Society and hopes to play volleyball in college, where she’s planning to major in biochemistry and genetic counseling and minor in photography.

Emily Hanson, Scarborough’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, had a performance during a championship season that was inspiring and won’t soon be forgotten.

Coach Jon Roberts’ comment: “Emily was very important to our team. She came up big for us. She was a calming influence. She was able to keep other kids focused even when we were down in games and make them believe we could come back. She played a big role in key matches down the stretch. She served tough and in our semifinal and state matches, she put mistakes behind her, focused on the next play and gave her best performances of the year, ultimately allowing our team to succeed. I’m extremely proud of her effort.”

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Prior winners:

2014 Kristen Murray (field hockey)

2013 Abby Mills (volleyball)

2012 Sarah Martens (soccer)

2011 Brittany Bona (volleyball)

2010 Cortney Hughes (soccer)

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2009 Brittany Ross (field hockey)

2008 Brittany Ross (field hockey)

2007 Sarah Bonenfant (field hockey)

2006 Erica Jesseman (cross country)

2005 Liz Houle (soccer)

2004 Caitlin Albert (field hockey)

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2003 Zaria Udeh (soccer)

2002 Caitlin Neelon (field hockey)

2001 Maureen McHugh (soccer)

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

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