With October upon us, it won’t be long before local athletes and teams will be taking part in the postseasons of their respective sports. Golf team championships are just days away and field hockey’s regular season will be done by this time next week. Here’s a look at where your favorite teams stand as the days grow shorter and the games become more meaningful:

Football

While Deering’s football team was adding another inspirational chapter to its 2010 story and Portland continued to struggle (please see stories), Cheverus had little trouble improving to 5-0 Friday night. Playing at Kennebunk, the Stags took a quarter to get used to the rainy conditions, then came to life in the second period, scoring 26 points behind two TD runs each from seniors Peter Gwilym and Evan Jendrasko. A short TD run from junior Spencer Cooke and a fumble return for a score by senior Liam Hobbins in the fourth period gave Cheverus a 40-0 triumph.

The Stags (who lead the Western A Crabtree Points standings) go to 2-3 Westbrook Friday. The Blue Blazes are riding a two-game winning streak. Last year, Cheverus rolled at home over Westbrook, 48-0. The Stags can’t get caught looking ahead to next Saturday’s home showdown with Bonny Eagle and the regular season finale against Deering.

Boys’ soccer

Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team is quietly putting together another stellar season. The Flyers, who lost just once in the regular season in 2009 before being upset in the quarterfinals, are once again positioning themselves for a high seed in Western C.

Waynflete is now 5-0-2 (fifth in the Heal Points standings) after a 2-2 tie at Richmond and a 1-0 victory at North Yarmouth Academy in recent days. In the deadlock, senior Tucker Geoffroy (from classmate Omar Abdille) and sophomore Kevin Kanakan (from Geoffroy) had the goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Zander Majercik stopped five shots. At the Panthers, sophomore Peabo Knoth (from freshman Henry Cleaves) scored with two minutes to go for the lone goal. Majercik stopped four shots for his fourth shutout of the season.

“We have dealt with some injuries and sickness the past couple of weeks and players have had to move around quite a bit,” said Waynflete coach Brandon Salway. “We are very pleased with our start, but are hoping to become more consistent. We’ve got some very difficult opponents coming up so we have to continue to improve.”

The Flyers were at Western B contender Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, play host to Freeport Friday and welcome Traip Academy next Tuesday.

In Western A, Portland continues to lead the way. The Bulldogs entered Tuesday’s showdown at rival Cheverus riding a five-game win streak and were on a six-game unbeaten roll. Last week, Portland downed host Biddeford (7-1) and visiting Westbrook (4-1). Against the Tigers, junior Alan Tuyishime scored three times. Sophomore Tim Rovnak had three goals versus the Blue Blazes. The Bulldogs (7-1-1 and sixth in the Heals) host Massabesic Thursday (in the program’s second annual Breast Cancer Awareness game, at 6 p.m.) and visit Marshwood next Tuesday.

Cheverus was 6-2-1 and fourth in Western A at the start of the week. The Stags beat visiting Windham (3-1) and host Kennebunk (5-1) last week. Against the Eagles, junior Nick Melville had two goals and junior Elliot Maker scored the third. In the win over the Rams, Maker had a pair of tallies. Cheverus hosted Portland Tuesday, goes to Westbrook Thursday and is at Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

Deering was 2-6-1 and 16th entering its home game against Scarborough Tuesday. The Rams lost, 3-2, at South Portland in a driving rainstorm last Tuesday night (seniors Charlie Dupee and Connor Montello had goals), then snapped a four-game losing streak Thursday with a 2-0 home victory over Biddeford (behind goals from Dupee and sophomore Billy Farrell). Deering goes to Bonny Eagle Thursday and is home against the other Rams from Kennebunk next Tuesday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, keep an eye on Deering. Wins last week over visiting McAuley (1-0) and host Biddeford (2-0) gave the Rams a 6-3 mark and the No. 8 spot in the Western A Heals. Freshman Alexis Elowitch (from senior Aarika Viola in the first half) had the goal which beat the Lions. Senior goalkeeper Jen Lynch made 11 saves. Elowitch and Viola both scored against the Tigers and Lynch had seven saves. Deering has a home showdown versus undefeated and top ranked Scarborough Wednesday and hosts Bonny Eagle Saturday.

Cheverus is still going strong. The Stags snapped a two-game losing skid last Wednesday with a 2-0 triumph at Windham. Freshman Sade Lyons scored both goals. Saturday, Cheverus improved to 7-2-1 (and second in the Heals) with a 7-2 home victory over Kennebunk. Lyons and sophomore Hannah Noonan both had two goals. Junior Allison Thomas, sophomore Darby Rawcliffe and freshman Abby Maker also scored. The Stags go to Portland Wednesday and visit Westbrook Saturday.

McAuley entered the week 11th with a 4-3-2 mark (the top 10 teams make the playoffs). The Lions lost, 1-0, at Deering (sophomore goalie Molly Miller made 11 saves) and 8-0, at home to Scarborough last week. In the game against the Red Storm, the visitors scored twice in the first four minutes and rolled in the rain as undermanned McAuley (which has been decimated by injury in recent days) couldn’t respond.

“Injuries are a big setback,” said Lions coach Vince Aceto. “It’s like dominoes. We’re trying to stay on track. If we can get to seven wins, we could (get in the playoffs).”

McAuley visits South Portland Wednesday and hosts Noble Monday.

Portland was 0-9 and 19th at the start of the week after a 2-0 home loss to Biddeford last Wednesday. Friday’s game at Westbrook was postponed by rain. After hosting Cheverus Wednesday, the Bulldogs visit Massabesic Friday.

In Western C, Waynflete entered the week 4-2-1 and sixth in the standings (nine teams qualify for the postseason) after a 1-0 win at Old Orchard Beach and a 0-0 draw at NYA. In the victory, junior Becky Smith had the goal, while senior goalkeeper Emma Longcope stopped seven shots. Longcope also made seven saves against the Panthers. The Flyers were at Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, host Fryeburg Thursday and go to Traip Academy next Tuesday.

Field hockey

Waynflete’s field hockey team is turning heads. The Flyers entered the week winners of three out of four games, including a pair of overtime decisions last week. Last Wednesday, Waynflete beat visiting Freeport in a veritable shootout, 5-4. Senior Lindsey Sinicki scored in the first half, but the Flyers trailed at the break, 2-1.

In the second half, down two goals, junior Alida Ferrell and sophomore Nyanen Deng rattled the cage to make it 3-3. A goal from Farrell with two minutes left appeared to give Waynflete the win, but the Falcons tied the score with 20 seconds to go.

In overtime, junior Roz Gray-Bauer delivered the winning goal. Sophomore Kalina Mills made six saves. Friday, the Flyers held off visiting Old Orchard Beach, 1-0, on sophomore Jo Moore’s goal just as the second and final overtime session was about to expire. Mills stopped five shots as Waynflete improved to 5-4-1.

The Flyers (who haven’t won six games in a season since the Jimmy Carter’s administration, 1979) were at Old Orchard Beach Monday and Poland Tuesday, visit NYA Thursday and close the regular season with a makeup game at Traip next Monday. Waynflete (fifth in the latest Western C Heals, six teams qualify) is seeking its first playoff berth in a non-open tournament year since 1978.

In Western A, nine teams make the playoffs. Cheverus is battling for the top spot, while Portland is still in the hunt.

The Stags lost, 1-0, at Gorham last Thursday, but bounced back Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Marshwood on sophomore Brooke Flaherty’s overtime goal (from junior Sarah LaQuerre on a penalty corner). Cheverus (8-2 and third behind Scarborough and Westbrook in the Heals) went to McAuley Monday, hosts Portland Wednesday, has a showdown at Scarborough Friday, then closes the regular season next Tuesday against visiting Thornton Academy.

The Bulldogs were 11th in the Heals as the week began. Last Thursday, Portland held off visiting South Portland, 3-2, in overtime. Junior Raechel Allen stole the show, twice tying the game in regulation before delivering the winner on a breakaway with 2:25 remaining in the extra session. Junior goalie Kathleen Dalbec made six saves.

Saturday, the Bulldogs fell to 4-5 after a 6-0 loss at Westbrook (Dalbec did make 10 saves). Portland was home against Biddeford Monday, visits Cheverus Wednesday, hosts Gorham Friday and closes the regular season next week with visits to Sanford Monday and Marshwood Tuesday.

McAuley entered the week 3-8 and 16th in the standings after losses last week to host South Portland (4-0), visiting Westbrook (3-0) and host Biddeford (3-1). Freshman Julia Cornell made four saves in her varsity debut against the Blue Blazes. Senior Sara Mercier had the goal against the Tigers. The Lions welcomed Cheverus Monday, go to Gorham Wednesday and close Friday at home versus Marshwood. They’d realistically need to beat the Stags and Rams to make the jump into playoff contention.

Deering will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The Rams lost last week to Bonny Eagle (4-0) and Kennebunk (5-0, despite 23 saves from junior goalie Caley Presby) and fell to 0-10 (17th in Western A).  After hosting Massabesic Monday, Deering is at Noble Wednesday, welcomes Sanford Friday and closes Tuesday of next week at South Portland.

Cross-country

Cheverus’ girls’ cross-country team, ranked first in the coaches’ poll, downed 45 other squads at Saturday’s Festival of Champions in Belfast. The Stags wound up with 74 points, easily besting runner-up John Bapst (196). Cheverus was paced by individual runner-up junior Emily Durgin (who completed the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 21.90 seconds). Junior Fiona Hendry (fourth, 19:09.46) and freshman Shannon Conley (seventh, 19:43.35) also finished in the top 10. Waynflete (609 points) came in 23rd. Sophomore Martha Veroneau was 23rd individually (20:38.64). McAuley (854) placed 32nd. Junior Rebecca Kaiser (73rd, 22:03.38) was the fastest Lion.

Scarborough won the boys’ competition (133 points). Cheverus (551) came in 20th. Junior David Woodbury placed 74th (18:09.43). Waynflete (657) was 25th. Junior Abshir Horor sparkled, coming in sixth (16:38.09).

Deering and Portland didn’t compete at Belfast. The Rams (along with Thornton Academy) ran at Windham last Thursday. The boys came in first behind junior Tom Dean (who was the second fastest individual, 18:20). The girls were third despite a third-place showing from junior Ella Ramonas (21:47).

The Bulldogs joined Sanford and Scarborough at Biddeford last Wednesday, where the girls were second and the boys third. Junior Nyawel Lia won the girls’ race in 24:43. Junior Dexter Morse was fourth (19:41) for the boys.

Friday, Deering hosts Gorham and Kennebunk, Cheverus joins Marshwood at Scarborough, McAuley (along with Biddeford and Massabesic) runs at Bonny Eagle and Portland (with Noble and Westbrook) is at Thornton Academy. Waynflete will take part in the Western Maine Conference championship meet at Falmouth Thursday.

Golf

The team golf state championship matches will be held Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. Deering, which went 9-0-1 in the regular season, earned an automatic berth by winning the SMAA’s northern division. Cheverus (5-5) won the SMAA qualifier Monday with a team score of 317 and earned a spot. Portland (1-9 in the regular season) shot a 345 at the qualifier, but wound up sixth (only the top three advanced). Waynflete went 0-10 this season.

The individual championships for boys and girls are Saturday, Oct. 16, also at Natanis. Portland’s Stephanie Rogers and Deering’s Delaney Loring will compete in the girls’ match. Rogers was 16th (shooting a 105) and Loring tied for 19th (109) at last week’s SMAA/WMC qualifier. Cheverus’ Kyle Bourassa shot a 75 to win the SMAA qualifier and earn a spot in the boys’ individual finals. He’ll be joined by teammates Nick Burns (78), Andrew Cloutier (79) and Quinn O”hanlon (82) and Deering’s Matt Bevilacqua (76), Joe Walp (76) and Rocco Spizuoco (83).

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

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Waynflete senior Liv Chap plays the ball away from NYA senior Caroline Bowne during the teams’ 0-0 tie Saturday afternoon.

Waynflete senior Elena Britos launches the ball upfield Saturday. The Flyers entered the week with a record of 4-2-1.