The soccer, cross country and volleyball regular seasons took another step toward completion last week with plenty of drama. Here’s a look at where things stand as we hit mid-October:

Boys’ soccer

The Cape Elizabeth boys’ soccer team is fighting for its playoff life. The Capers improved to 7-4-1 with a 3-0 win at York and a 2-2 home tie against Yarmouth, but were ninth in the Western Class A Heal Points standings (only the top nine teams make the postseason) prior to a showdown at Greely Wednesday night. Against the Wildcats, seniors Ben Brewster and Harper Nelson, along with junior Jack Queeney scored goals. Against the Clippers, junior goalkeeper Cam Brown made a gorgeous, game-turning save on a penalty kick with his team down 1-0 in the first half. Junior Alex Diaz then scored to tie the game and senior Brock Barritt converted a penalty kick in the second half, but Yarmouth tied the game with 32 seconds to go.

“We had the game won and lost focus for a few seconds,” lamented Capers coach Ben Raymond. “Yarmouth did a great job. They work hard. They earned everything they got. They capitalized and played hard in the box. Cam made a great save on the PK. We made ours. It’s hard to possess the ball against Yarmouth. When we can move the ball and possess, we’re at our best.”

Cape Elizabeth was treating the game at Greely like a playoff game and likely needed to win to get into the playoffs. The Capers close the regular season at Freeport Monday.

“Getting points (against Yarmouth) helps a lot,” Raymond said. “It’s half of a win. We need to beat Greely. We should have beaten them the first time (a 3-2 home loss Oct. 1).”

Elsewhere in Western A, Scarborough continues to excel. The top-ranked Red Storm improved to 12-0 Tuesday night with their 30th successive victory, 2-0 at Bonny Eagle (behind goals from junior Brett Leighton and sophomore Andrew Jones and another shutout from senior goalkeeper Tennessee Peters). Scarborough was coming off a surprisingly decisive 6-0 win at Windham. The Red Storm hosted Sanford Thursday and end the regular year at Thornton Academy Tuesday.

South Portland’s playoff hopes are now in jeopardy. The Red Riots, who started the year 6-1-1, fell to 7-4-1 Tuesday after a 1-0 home loss to Gorham. South Portland had defeated host Thornton Academy 2-0 last Thursday (senior Brian Arsenault and sophomore Andy Mills scored in that one). South Portland was 10th in the latest Western A Heals (the top nine teams make the playoffs) and have work to do to qualify. After hosting Portland Thursday, the Red Riots close at Cheverus Monday.

Girls’ soccer

The Scarborough girls are on top of the Western A Heals with a 10-1 mark. The Red Storm won 4-1 at home over Deering last Wednesday (sophomore Haley Carignan scored twice). Scarborough was home against Bonny Eagle Wednesday, plays at Sanford Friday and closes its regular season at home against Thornton Academy Tuesday.

South Portland suffered a pivotal 1-0 loss at McAuley Tuesday to drop to 4-6-1. The Red Riots were coming off an agonizing 4-3 overtime home loss to Thornton Academy in a game which saw them rally from a 3-0 halftime deficit only to lose in the extra session. Senior Karleigh Bradbury scored twice and freshman Erin Bogdanovich also tickled the twine. South Portland (12th in the latest Heals, only the top 10 teams qualify for the playoffs) went to three-time defending regional champion Gorham Wednesday, play host to Portland Friday and welcome Marshwood in the regular season finale Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth appeared to be a shoo-in for the postseason when it started 5-1-2, but the Capers have now lost five in a row and could be on the outside looking in. After dropping a 4-0 home decision to York last Thursday, Cape Elizabeth fell 1-0 at home to Yarmouth Saturday, then lost 2-0 at home to Greely Tuesday (see Web site for full game story) to drop to 5-6-2 (and ninth in the standings).

Cape Elizabeth wraps up its regular season at home against Freeport Monday.

“We have a little break, then we get Freeport here,” Capers coach Gary Newell said. “We have to beat them and hope. I’m confident going into that game. We just have to cash in our opportunities. I’m pleased. I wish there was more of the season left.”

Cross country

The Cape Elizabeth cross country teams impressed at last week’s Western Maine Conference championship meet in Falmouth.

The defending Class B state champion girls won easily with 30 points. Emily Attwood was first (19 minutes, 38 seconds). Rachel Nichols (fourth, 20:36.60), Kelsey Barton (fifth, 20:44.10, Hannah Doss (seventh, 21:10) and Catherine Tierney (13th, 21:51.60) also scored. Emma Inhorn (21:59.20) and Ellen Best (19th, 22:10.60) would have scored for anyone else.

“The girls were successful despite the soggy, wet and challenging conditions they faced,” said Capers coach Mary Ann Doss. “The course was very difficult to maneuver, especially the turns and the normally flatter, faster sections that were soaked or under water. Despite all that, they were happy to repeat as champions. I thought they all looked very strong and fit and will be where they need to be at the end of the season when it counts.”

The boys were second to defending Class B state champion Greely (41 points to 70). The top finisher was Reid Douty, who was seventh in 17:29. Thomas Bottomley (eighth, 17:33.60), Peter Brigham (14th, 17:51), Leo Ledman (15th, 17:53.90) and Bobby Yokabaskas (26th, 18:16.70) also scored. Sean Thomas (34th, 18:42) and Paul Trantina (49th, 19:30.50) completed the field.

“The boys ran a solid race,” said Cape Elizabeth coach David Weatherbie. “We had two guys in the top 10 and four in the top 15. Our team goal was to finish in the top two and beat Falmouth and York, so we were pleased with the result. We’d like to get closer to Greely over the next few weeks.”

The Capers finish the regular season Friday at home against Falmouth, Lake Region and Yarmouth.

In Class A, defending state champion Scarborough coming off a home sweep of Deering, Noble and Thornton Academy, ends its regular year by joining Bonny Eagle, Westbrook and Windham at Gorham Friday.

South Portland, which finished second in both genders at a meet in Biddeford (which also included Gorham) last week, joins Deering, McAuley and Portland at Cheverus Friday.

The regional championships are Saturday, Oct. 24 at Twin Brook in Cumberland. The state meets are Saturday, Oct. 31, also in Cumberland.

Volleyball

The Scarborough volleyball team is closing in on a playoff berth. The Red Storm improved to 8-4 Tuesday with a 3-1 (25-13, 22-25, 25-19, 25-9) victory over visiting Cony. Scarborough bounced back from a 3-0 (13-25, 16-25, 18-25) defeat at six-time defending state champion Greely. The Red Storm (fifth in the Class A Heal Points standings) were at unbeaten Falmouth Wednesday and finish the regular year at home versus Yarmouth Friday.

Cape Elizabeth is 1-10 and 11th in the Heals. The Capers were at Greely Wednesday and host NYA in their finale Friday night.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

 

The Cape Elizabeth girls’ cross country juggernaut easily won the Western Maine Conference championship meet last week. Rachel Nichols (left) and Kelsey Barton came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Sidebar Elements

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Cape Elizabeth goalkeeper guessed right and made a gorgeous diving save of Yarmouth’s Ebrahim Fazeli’s penalty kick Saturday night. The save turned momentum in the Capers’ favor and they went on to tie the undefeated Clippers 2-2.