Local soccer, field hockey, cross country and golf teams were very busy over the past week and each school had something to get excited about.

Here’s a glimpse at what you might have missed:

Boys’ soccer

The Portland boys’ soccer team is rounding into the form which launched last year’s squad to the state final. The Bulldogs lost their opener to Windham, but took a four-game unbeaten streak into the week and were ranked second in the latest Western Class A Heal Points standings. Last Tuesday, the Bulldogs went to a powerhouse Scarborough team they hadn’t beaten in nine tries. Portland didn’t get a win, but played the Red Storm to a scoreless tie.

“It was a great game between what I thought, were two excellent teams,” said longtime Bulldogs coach Rocky Frenzilli. “Obviously, you want the ‘W,’ but if you don’t get that, I think this was appropriate with how both teams played. It was a great game. A joy to be part of. I’m really proud of the kids. Scarborough played very well. I thought the game went exactly the way a tie game would go. The scorebook was a mirror, shots, corners, of the play on the field. There weren’t a lot of great chances. These kids came and gave it their all. I’m happy with the result.”

Thursday, Portland played its second difficult game in a 48-hour span and held off visiting Gorham, 3-1, behind two goals from Tim Rovnak and another from Paley Burlin.

The Bulldogs (3-1-1) hosted Biddeford Tuesday, go to Westbrook Thursday and host rival Cheverus Tuesday of next week.

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“I’m guardedly optimistic about our chances,” said Frenzilli. “I want our kids to continue to do well.”

Cheverus won its first three outings, capped by an 8-3 romp at Noble last Tuesday. In that one, Eliot Maker scored three times. Nick Melville added two goals and Alex Mann, Nathan Palmer and Billy Risigo all scored once. The fun ended Saturday with a 4-0 home loss to Scarborough. The Stags (3-1 and 11th in the Heals) went to Windham Tuesday, host Kennebunk Friday and play at Portland next Tuesday.

Deering had an emotional week after the tragic drowning of senior Mohamed Hassan Sept. 10. The Rams postponed last Tuesday’s game at Gorham to Monday and finally took the pitch Thursday at home versus Noble. Hassan was honored in a pregame ceremony (his jersey was brought on to the field and players wore black armbands) and Deering went out and beat the Knights, 2-0, behind goals from Brandon Saucier and Edgar Gonzalez.

The Rams (3-1 and 10th in the Heals) were home against South Portland Tuesday, go to Biddeford Thursday and visit Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

In Western C, Waynflete is living up to its billing as a top contender. The Flyers sandwiched wins over host Wells (8-0) and visiting Richmond (5-2) around a frustrating 1-1 home draw with rival North Yarmouth Academy. Against the Warriors, Peabo Knoth had three goals and William Cleaves scored twice. Kevin Kanakan had two goals in the win over Richmond. Against the Panthers, a first half goal from Mohammed Suja looked like it would hold up, but NYA tied the game in the 68th minute and score wound up deadlocked, 1-1.

“I don’t think it was either team’s best soccer,” said Waynflete coach Brandon Salway. “The better soccer’s to come for both squads. (NYA) had chances all day. They could have easily tied it before. We could have won it. They could have won it. Both teams have work to do, but for an early season match, the intensity was good. I think we’ll learn from it and hopefully get better. I was pleased with how hard we played. Our fitness is not great and it showed. We were fairly tired at the end. I’m pretty happy with the effort and I thought we had to gut it out a little bit. We’ll get a lot better than we were today.”

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The Flyers were home with Traip Tuesday, welcome Sacopee Valley Thursday and Wells Monday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Waynflete has come to life after an early season loss to York.

Last week, the Flyers enjoyed home wins over Old Orchard Beach (6-2), NYA (8-0) and defending Class D state champion Richmond (5-4, in overtime). Against the Seagulls, Becky Smith had four goals. Ella Millard tickled the twine four times versus the Panthers, Smith scored twice and Sadie Cole and Ellen Silk also scored.

In a thriller against Richmond, Cole forced overtime with a late goal and Smith took a pass from Millard and delivered the winner. Smith  and Cole each finished with two goals, while Walker Foehl also scored.

Waynflete (3-1 and third in the latest Western C Heals) went to Traip Tuesday, welcomes Freeport Thursday and Gray-New Gloucester Saturday, then goes to Old Orchard Beach Monday.

In Western A, Cheverus is leading the local parade. The Stags beat visiting Biddeford (7-0) and Noble (2-0) and battled defending Class A champion Scarborough to a 1-1 tie. Against the Tigers, Katherine Hunzinger, Danielle Kane, Sade Lyons, Abby Maker, Eden Monsen, Darby Rawcliffe and Hannah Robbins all scored.

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In the win over the Knights, Lyons and Victoria Nappi scored. Rawcliffe had the goal against the Red Storm, while Mikayla Mayberry continued her superb play in goal. Cheverus (3-0-1 and third in the Heals) hosted Windham Tuesday and welcomes Kennebunk Thursday. Saturday brings a trip to Sanford.

Deering began the week 4-1 and eighth in the Heals after sandwiching wins at Westbrook (5-0) and Noble (3-1) around a 1-0 home setback to Gorham. Against the Blue Blazes, Delaney Coyne and Alexis Elowitch both had two goals, while Maura Densmore also tickled the twine. Elowitch, Chelsea Saucier and Alexis Sivovlos all scored versus the Knights. In the loss, goalkeeper Lee Ann Downs made 13 saves.

The Rams are home against Thornton Academy Thursday and go to South Portland Saturday.

McAuley entered the week seeking its first victory. Last Monday, the Lions lost to visiting Windham, 3-0. Molly Miller did make 17 saves to keep things close. A 4-0 home loss to Thornton Academy Friday left McAuley 0-4. Miller stopped 16 shots in that game.

“Molly’s the straw that stirs the drink on our team, no doubt about it,” said Lions coach Vince Aceto. “We’re trying to find the right pair of strikers and it’s very difficult. We’re going to develop as we can moving forward and see what works.”

McAuley (17th in the Western A Heals) sought win number one Tuesday at South Portland. Thursday, the Lions go to Bonny Eagle. Saturday, they host Gorham and Tuesday of next week, they visit Marshwood.

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Portland started the week 0-5 and 18th in the Heals after losses last week to visiting Scarborough (6-0) and host Gorham (5-0). The Bulldogs went to Biddeford Tuesday, host Westbrook Thursday and Bonny Eagle Saturday.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ field hockey team continued to dazzle last week, improving to 7-0 with three victories.

The Stags beat visiting Bonny Eagle, 3-1, last Monday as Sarah LaQuerre scored twice and Emily Rodrigue once. Two days later, Cheverus edged visiting Massabesic on Staci Swallow’s overtime goal. Friday, the Stags had no trouble with visiting Portland in a 5-0 victory. LaQuerre had two goals and two assists, Rodrigue, Alex Logan and Ali Saxton also scored.

Cheverus (third in the Western A Heals) hosted Marshwood Tuesday, goes to Scarborough for a showdown Thursday and visits South Portland Monday.

Deering was able to celebrate a win last week for the first time since Oct. 8, 2009, 2-0, over visiting McAuley. Lauren Blinsinger and Amanda LeMoult had the Rams’ goals. Deering had that win sandwiched by shutout losses at Kennebunk (1-0) and Sanford (3-0) and began the week 1-4-1 and 10th in the Heals. The Rams hosted Westbrook Tuesday, go to Bonny Eagle Thursday and return home to meet Portland Monday.

Speaking of the Bulldogs, they began last week with a 2-0 home win over Gorham as Raechel Allen scored rebound goals in each half.

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“This is one we felt we should win and we went out and did it,” said Portland coach Beth Arsenault. “Obviously, we want to go to playoffs and these are the types of games we have to win. Gorham will win their share.”

The Bulldogs fell to 2-4 Friday after a 5-0 loss at Cheverus and entered the week 12th in the Heals. Portland had a key home tilt versus Thornton Academy Monday, visits Windham Thursday and goes to Deering Monday.

“I’m not too concerned, considering the strength of our schedule,” Arsenault said. “I’m encouraged. We have a lot of games left. We have huge games coming up. The new kids are working out well. They bring a ton of skill, but their personalities are so fun. They’re fitting in.”

McAuley did a little of everything a week ago, winning at Windham, 1-0, losing at Deering, 2-0, and tying host Noble, 1-1. In the victory, Lulu Hawkes had the goal. Liz Houston scored against the Knights. The Lions (2-4-1 and 11th in Western A) hosted Sanford Tuesday and welcome South Portland Thursday.

In Western C, Waynflete sandwiched losses to host Traip (5-3) and visiting Sacopee (4-1) around a 1-0 overtime home win over Poland. Against the Rangers, Rosalind Gray-Bauer had two goals. Jo Moore had the winner over the Knights. Gray-Bauer also scored in the loss to the Hawks. The Flyers (2-3 and sixth in the Heals) went to Yarmouth Monday, had a playoff rematch at NYA Wednesday, and host Gray-New Gloucester Friday and Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

Cheverus’ second regular season cross country meet was identical to the first, with both teams rolling to first place finishes. Running at Noble, along with Biddeford and Westbrook, the boys were led by Lukas Temple, who was runner-up individually in 20 minutes, 14.53 seconds. The girls (ranked first in the latest coaches’ poll) were paced by Emily Durgin (19:49.75). In fact, the Stags finished 1, 2 (Fiona Hendry), 3 (Shannon Conley), 4 (Kiera Murray) and 5 (MaddieWoods) to post a perfect score of 15.

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Deering hosted Massabesic, Thornton Academy and Windham. The boys won their meet behind Tom Dean, Sean Perry and Gabe Turner, who finished 3-4-5. The girls were fourth. Ella Ramonas came in third individually (19:41).

McAuley joined Sanford at Bonny Eagle and placed third. Taxia Arabatzis finished third (22:14).

Portland, with Marshwood, went to powerhouse Scarborough and both Bulldogs teams were second to the Red Storm. The boys were paced by runner-up Ben Allen (17:29.80). The girls were led by Roland Elin, who was fifth (23:49).

Waynflete joined Greely and Sacopee Valley at Lake Region. The boys were second to the Rangers as Abshir Horor was the individual winner in 15:46. The girls also placed second to Greely as Martha Veroneau was the fastest individual (18:35).

This weekend, Cheverus joins Bonny Eagle and Kennebunk at Massabesic, Deering, Scarborough and Biddeford run at Sanford, McAuley joins Gorham and Marshwood at Thornton Academy, Portland is at Westbrook and Waynflete will run in the Manchester (N.H.) Invitational.

Golf

The golf regular season is halfway done.

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Cheverus continues to lead the local charge. The Stags blanked visiting Portland, 13-0, last Wednesday to go to 2-1. Cheverus was at Deering Monday, goes to South Portland Wednesday and hosts Falmouth Friday.

Deering took a 2-3 mark into Monday’s match with Cheverus. Last week, the Rams lost to visiting Falmouth (9.5-3.5) and host Scarborough (8.5-4.5), then bounced back and downed visiting South Portland (13-0). Deering welcomes Scarborough Wednesday and Portland Friday.

The Bulldogs got their first victory of the season last Monday, 13-0, over South Portland. Portland then fell to 1-3 after a 13-0 loss at Cheverus two days later. The Bulldogs hosted Scarborough Monday and welcome Falmouth Wednesday. Friday, they go to Deering.

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

Sidebar Elements


Waynflete junior Sadie Cole bangs home one of her two goals in Saturday’s palpitating 5-4 overtime home win over defending Class D state champion Richmond.

Waynflete senior captain Becky Smith plays the ball past a defender Saturday. Smith’s overtime goal gave the Flyers their third successive victory.


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