Freeport senior Wes Goodwin boots the ball away from Cape Elizabeth’s John O’Connor during the Capers’ 2-0 victory Monday night.

Yarmouth goalie Catye Tillotson goes all out to deny a Greely rush during the Rangers’ 3-0 victory last week.

Falmouth’s Annika Hester blocks a shot at the net during the Yachtsmen’s 3-1 win over Scarborough last week.

Greely’s Luke Marsanskis, left, and Matthew Todd run together during the Rangers’ home cross country meet last weekend. Todd finished first and Marsanskis second as Greely took first place as a team.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Falmouth-Portland and Freeport-Cape Elizabeth boys’ soccer, Falmouth-Cheverus and Freeport-Cape Elizabeth girls’ soccer, Greely-Yarmouth field hockey and Falmouth-Scarborough volleyball game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The games keep getting bigger and the results remain encouraging for local squads as the fall sports season rolls on.

Here’s a look back at the week that was and a glimpse at what’s to come:

Football

Falmouth’s football team improved to 2-1 with its second straight victory last Friday, 31-7, at Gorham. Riley Reed scored on a 43-yard run to produce a 6-0 lead after one quarter. A 9-yard scoring pass from Nick Mancini to Jackman Graiver-Webber made it 12-0 at the half. Zach Derhak’s 4-yard run stretched the lead to 19-0 after three periods and while the Rams got on the board in the fourth quarter, the Yachtsmen put it away behind a 55-yard Reed burst and a 1-yard Reed run. Reed finished with 270 yards and three scores on 18 carries. Falmouth will get tested Friday evening when it hosts 2-1 Biddeford (see theforecaster.net for game story). 

Freeport is also 2-1 after Saturday’s 14-6 victory at Camden Hills. Adam Ulrickson had touchdown runs of 1- and 6-yards and finished with 100 yards on 27 carries. The Falcons’ defense preserved the victory with a last-second, goal-line stand. Freeport looks to improve to 3-1 Friday when 0-3 Telstar pays a visit.

Greely gave defending Class B champion Marshwood a battle Friday in Cumberland, but lost, 22-0, to fall to 1-2. The Rangers suited up just 19 players, but played valiantly. Greely goes to 1-2 Cape Elizabeth Friday.

Yarmouth got in the win column last weekend, outscoring host John Bapst, 51-34, to improve to 1-2. The Clippers were down, 14-7, after one quarter despite Noah Eckersley-Ray’s 3-yard touchdown run. A 6-yard Eckersley-Ray TD scamper tied the game, 14-14, at the half. Eckersley-Ray ran for a 38-yard score in the third period, but Yarmouth trailed, 26-21, entering the fourth. There, Jack Ricciardi scored on a 5-yard run and Eckersley-Ray added the two-point conversion, but again, John Bapst answered. Finally, a 7-yard Ricciardi run put the Clippers on top to stay. Eckersley-Ray added TD runs from 10-yards and two-yards out and Yarmouth pulled away to prevail. Eckersley-Ray had 207 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Ricciardi added 83 rushing yards and two scores. The Clippers host 2-1 Fryeburg Academy Friday.

Boys’ soccer

Yarmouth’s four-time defending Class B state champion boys’ soccer team took a 4-0-1 record into Tuesday’s game at Fryeburg Academy. Last week, the Clippers settled for a 1-1 home draw with Freeport, then won, 5-2, at Wells. In the tie, Eric LaBrie scored an early goal, but the Clippers gave up an own-goal late and their three-year, 26-game win streak came to a close. In the win over the Warriors, which extended the program’s unbeaten streak to 35 games, Jack Jones scored three times, LaBrie added a score and Charlie Hunter converted a penalty kick. Yarmouth hosts Lake Region Thursday, goes to Poland Saturday and welcomes York for a regional final rematch Tuesday of next week.

Freeport was 3-1-2 at press time after a 1-1 tie at Yarmouth, a 2-1 home win over York and Monday’s 2-0 loss at Cape Elizabeth. The Falcons got an own-goal to tie Yarmouth. Atticus Patrick made four saves. In the win, Wes Goodwin and Will Winter had the goals. Patrick made five saves. Against the Capers, Freeport gave up a pair of first half goals and for the first time all season, couldn’t score.

“Cape frustrated us,” Freeport’s first-year coach Bob Strong said. “They connected and played aggressive and we couldn’t get in a flow. We had some looks, but it’s not the result we were looking for. We just didn’t finish.”

The Falcons go to Wells Thursday, then host Traip Academy Saturday and welcome Poland Tuesday of next week.

Greely got its first victory, 1-0, over visiting Fryeburg Academy last Thursday. After a 1-0 loss at Waynflete Saturday, the Rangers improved to 2-2-2 Monday after a 4-0 win at Gray-New Gloucester. Chris Williams had the goal against the Raiders. Goalie Schuyler Wetmore made four saves in the loss to the Flyers. Against the Patriots, Pietro Ambrosini, Aidan Michaud, Jonathon Piesik and Aiden Smith all scored. Greely hosts York Friday and welcomes Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth settled for a scoreless draw at Portland last Tuesday, then downed visiting Sanford (2-0) Friday and Monday, improved to 4-1-1 with a 5-0 win at Westbrook. In the tie, goalkeeper Alvaro Fuentes-Canillina made seven clutch saves. 

“We’re two good teams,” said longtime Falmouth coach Dave Halligan. “We made some mistakes we can correct. They pressured us and we regrouped and got organized. We’re headed in the right direction.”

Against the Spartans, Thomas Fitzgerald and Nik Hester had the goals. In the win over the Blue Blazes, Macklin Williams scored three times while Gus Ford and Sam Gearan also tickled the twine. The Yachtsmen host Marshwood Thursday and go to Deering Tuesday of next week.

North Yarmouth Academy took a 5-0 record into Wednesday’s game at Lake Region following last Thursday’s 4-2 win at Buckfield. Ryan Baker, Xander Kostelnik, Chas Rhode and Alasdair Swett all scored. The Panthers visit St. Dom’s Saturday and welcome Richmond Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Yarmouth’s two-time defending Class B state champion girls’ soccer team is hitting its stride. Last Tuesday, the Clippers won, 4-2, at Freeport to even their record at 2-2. Yarmouth got two goals from Anna Wallace and one apiece from Parker Harnett and Abi Hincks. Hope Olson made five saves. The Clippers were home with Fryeburg Academy Tuesday, go to Lake Region Thursday, welcome Poland Saturday and visit York Tuesday of next week.

Freeport was 2-2-2 at press time following a 4-2 home loss to Yarmouth, a 2-2 tie at York and Monday’s 3-0 loss at Cape Elizabeth. In the loss to the Clippers, Catriona Gould and Carly Intraversato (who als0 made 15 saves) had the goals. In the tie, Gould and Intraversato scored, while Leah Rusiecki made 12 saves, including a clutch stop in the first overtime. Against the Capers, after an even first half, the Falcons surrendered three second half goals. Rusiecki made 10 saves.

“I thought we had a chance tonight and the first half was pretty even, but they have really good girls in the middle who are very good with the ball,” Freeport first-year coach David Intraversato said. “They turned it on a little bit and I think we slowed down.”

The Falcons host Wells Thursday, play at St. Dom’s Saturday and visit Poland Tuesday of next week.

Greely got back on track last week with 4-1 wins at home over Poland and at Fryeburg Academy. Julia Martel had two goals and Skylar Cooney and Brooke Obar added one each in the win over the Knights. The Rangers are home against Waynflete Saturday and go to Cape Elizabeth Tuesday.

Falmouth settled for a scoreless home tie versus Noble last Wednesday, then fell to 1-2-1 after Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to Cheverus. Jordan Wolf made four saves against the Knights and stopped four more shots against the Stags, but the Yachtsmen continue to struggle on offense.

“It’s weird,” Falmouth coach Andrew Pelletier said. “We scored 18 goals in the preseason and now we have one goal in four games.” 

The Yachtsmen go to Marshwood Thursday, host Gorham Saturday and welcome Bonny Eagle Monday.

NYA was 4-2 and riding a three-game win streak entering Wednesday’s home game versus Old Orchard Beach. Last week, the Panthers defeated visiting Rangeley (1-0), host Buckfield (4-0) and visiting Greater Portland Christian School (10-0). Catherine Reid had the lone goal against the Lakers. NYA is home against Richmond Monday.

Field hockey

Freeport and Greely’s field hockey teams continue to surge.

The Falcons extended their win streak to four and improved to 5-1 after victories last week at Gray-New Gloucester (8-2) and at home over Traip Academy (8-0). In the win over the Patriots, Natalie Anderson scored three times and Anyslie Decker, Autumn Golding, Hannah Groves, Alexa Koenig and Kerry Lefebvre had one goal apiece. Against the Rangers, Ally Randall had a hat trick and Anderson, Groves, Koenig, Lefebvre and Tabatha Sabans also rattled the cage. Freeport was home against defending Class C state champion St. Dom’s Tuesday, visits defending Class B South champion York Thursday, goes Yarmouth Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes Poland Monday and hosts Cape Elizabeth Wednesday of next week.

Greely, meanwhile, made it four straight victories after downing host Yarmouth (3-0) and Poland (5-2) last week. Against the Clippers, Maddy Perfetti scored twice, including a goal on a penalty stroke, and Delia Knox added a goal.

“That sound of the ball hitting the backboard is one of my favorites,” Perfetti said. “We were really hyped for this game. I know there was a lot of positive energy out there and that helped us get started.” 

“Today, we showed up confident and more importantly, ready to have fun and play as a group,” said Rangers coach Chelsea Morley. “It’s been a few days since our last game and the girls were itching to get out on the field.”

Wren Payne had a hat trick against the Knights, helping the Rangers avenge last year’s playoff ouster. Knox and Megan Beaulieu also scored. Greely was home with Lake Region Tuesday, hosts Fryeburg Academy Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visits Traip Academy Saturday, plays at Cape Elizabeth Monday and is home with York Wednesday of next week.

Yarmouth took a 2-4 record into Tuesday’s game at Cape Elizabeth following home losses to Greely (3-0) and Lake Region (1-0) sandwiched around a 1-0 victory at Gray-New Gloucester last week. Against the Rangers, goalie Cayte Tillotson made 23 saves.

We have to figure out when one thing goes wrong, not everything goes wrong,” said Clippers first-year coach Tracy Quimby. “We can’t stay down. We have to stay intense the whole time.”

Lydia Guay had the goal in the victory. Tillotson made a dozen saves in the loss to the Lakers. Yarmouth was at Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, hosts NYA Thursday, welcomes Freeport Saturday and goes to Wells Monday.

NYA fell to 2-3 after last Wednesday’s 4-1 loss at St. Dom’s. The Panthers go to Yarmouth Thursday, host Wells Saturday, visit Sacopee Valley Monday and welcome Lake Region Wednesday of next week.

Volleyball

Falmouth’s volleyball team took a 4-0 mark into Tuesday’s showdown at Cape Elizabeth in a rematch of last year’s Class B state final (see theforecaster.net for match story). Last week, the Yachtsmen beat host South Portland in three sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-13) and held off visiting Scarborough, the defending Class A champion, in four sets (25-10, 25-20, 17-25, 25-18). Annika Hester had 16 kills against the Red Riots and produced 17 kills in the win over the Red Storm.

“We were expecting them to come back, so we had to stay smart, keep talking and be aggressive,” said Hester.

“We’re still trying to figure out we are after losing seven seniors last year,” Falmouth first-year coach Larry Nichols said. “A couple girls have match experience, but the rest of them are learning to play. It’s been like a raw clay. There are good pieces, they just have to figure out where they fit.” 

The Yachtsmen host Yarmouth Thursday (see theforecaster.net for story) and go to Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth improved to 4-0 last Thursday with a four-set (23-25, 25-11, 25-17, 25-11) home win over Greely, then suffered its first loss the following evening in three sets (22-25, 24-26, 17-25) to visiting Cape Elizabeth. Against the Rangers, Dominique Moran had 22 service points and 29 assists and Evelyn Lukis added 14 kills.

“Greely came out and reminded us that they are still Greely,” said Clippers coach Jim Senecal. “They got up on us big in the first set. After that, we calmed down and played very well.”

In the loss, Lukis had nine kills. Yarmouth hosted Cony Tuesday, goes to Falmouth Thursday and welcomes NYA Tuesday of next week.

Greely was 2-4 at press time following losses at Yarmouth in four games (25-23, 11-25, 17-25, 11-25) and at Gorham in straight sets (18-25, 12-25, 21-25) sandwiched around a four-set home victory over Gardiner. Morgan Selby had 12 kills in the loss to the Clippers. The Rangers go to Cape Elizabeth Thursday and visit Scarborough Tuesday.

NYA takes a 3-1 record into Thursday’s match at Lake Region. Last Thursday, the Panthers edged visiting Gardiner in a five-set thriller (25-19, 11-25, 22-25, 25-16, 16-14). Sydney Plummer had 13 kills and 15 digs, Elizabeth Kennedy had 12 digs, Afton Morton added nine digs and eight assists, Holly Akey had 12 digs and six assists, Avery Jackson finished with 12 digs and Alex Braunfels served six aces. NYA is at Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

Greely hosted Lake Region, Sacopee Valley, Waynflete and York in a cross country meet last week. The Rangers boys were first, as Matthew Todd (17 minutes, 33 seconds), Luke Marsanskis (17:47) and Nicolas Giandrea (18:01) were the top three individuals. In the girls’ meet, where the Rangers were second to York, Greely also had the top three individuals, as Marin Provencher won in 20:52 and was followed closely by Carolyn Todd (21:37) and Julia Curran (22:11). 

Falmouth joined Portland and Thornton Academy at Sanford. The Yachtsmen boys were first and featured individual winner John Auer (17:10). Ben Potter (17:32) was runner-up. The girls’ team swept the top four spots, as Sofie Matson (19:50) won the race and was followed by Malaika Pasch (20:27), Karley Piers (20:51) and Eva Clement (21:12). 

Freeport ran with Gray-New Gloucester and Traip Academy at Wells. The Falcons boys were second, as Martin Horne placed fifth individually (19:04). Freeport’s girls were also runner-up. Lily Horne came in third (22:13). 

Yarmouth hosted Maine Coast Waldorf, NYA and Poland. The Clippers won the boys’ meet, with MCW placing second and the Panthers third. Yarmouth’s Ben Cox-Faxon was the top individual (17:43.31). MCW’s Aiden Kusche was runner-up (18:46.6). NYA was paced by Chris Hamblett (fifth, 19:14.45). In the girls’ competition, Yarmouth was first and MCW second. MCW’s Olivia Reynolds was the top individual in 20:56.27). The Clippers were paced by runner-up Maddie Marston (21:01.38). NYA didn’t score, but Emma Collins had the 25th-best time (26:26.71).

Friday, Falmouth joins Deering and Westbrook at Bonny Eagle and NYA and Yarmouth run with Lake Region at Gray-New Gloucester. The Manchester (New Hampshire) Invitational is Saturday.

Golf

Falmouth’s golf team took a 5-1 mark into Tuesday’s showdown at defending Class A champion Scarborough. Last week, the Yachtsmen blanked South Portland, 13-0, as Tyler Baker was the medalist with a nine-hole round of 36. Monday, Falmouth downed Portland, 7.5-5.5, as Baker (35) was the medalist. Falmouth welcomes Deering Thursday and hosts Cheverus Tuesday of next week.

Freeport improved to 3-0-1 with wins last week over St. Dom’s (4-3) and Gray-New Gloucester (6.5-0.5), then suffered its first loss Monday, 7-0, to York. T.J. Whelan (41) was the medalist against the Saints and Tom Robinson (41) had the low score in the win over the Patriots. Whelan shot a 44 in the loss. The Falcons went to Fryeburg Academy Tuesday and host defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Greely edged Thornton Academy (7-6) and downed Gorham (9-4) last week to improve to 6-0. Against the Golden Trojans, Jake MacDonald (39) had the best score. Rachel Smith had a team-low 39 in the win over the Rams. The Rangers hosted Bonny Eagle Tuesday, goes to Windham Thursday and welcomes Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

NYA lost, 5-2, to St. Dom’s, then got its first victory, 5-0, against Old Orchard Beach last week to improve to 1-4. Jared Buckner had a team-best round of 41 in the loss. In the victory, Connor Millett (45) was the medalist. The Panthers went to Wells Tuesday and host Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth fell to 2-2-1 last week after losses to York (5.5-1.5) and Cape Elizabeth (5-2). In the loss to the Wildcats, Sam O’Donnell and Joe Wilson each shot 46 to tie for low score on the team. Trevor Ingalls had a team-best score of 44 against the Capers. The Clippers were home against Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, then host St. Dom’s Tuesday of next week.

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