Boys soccer
Sept. 1 Scarborough 1 p.m.
Sept. 4 Massabesic 6 p.m.
Sept. 6 @ Biddeford 4 p.m.
Sept. 11 @ Westbrook 6 p.m.
Sept. 13 @ Sanford 6 p.m.
Sept. 18 Deering 6 p.m.
Sept. 20 @ Windham 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 Kennebunk 6 p.m.
Sept. 27 @ Bonny Eagle 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 @ Gorham 6 p.m.
Oct. 4 Cheverus 6 p.m.
Oct. 9 Thornton Academy 6 p.m.
Oct. 11 @ Portland 5 p.m.
Oct. 16 Marshwood 6 p.m.
Coach: Bryan Hoy
Last year’s record: 9-3-4 last season, lost in Western Maine quarterfinals
Key players: Damjan Draskovic (Sr.-forward), Adam Helmke (Sr.-defense), Caleb Elsemore (Sr.-defense), Ben Burkey (Sr.-goalkeeper), Ryan Pelletier (Sr.-midfield), Ben Michaud (Jr.-defense), Danny Fox (Jr.-midfield), Andrew Whipple (So.-midfield), Ahmed Suja (Fr.-forward)
Key games this season: Sept. 18 vs. Deering, Sept. 20 at Windham, Sept. 24 vs. Kennebunk
Season outlook: The Red Riots lose 12 seniors off of the 2011 Western Maine quarterfinals squad, which Hoy called “probably the best team South Portland has seen in quite some time.” The talent is there again this season and should be competitive once again, but gelling a young and inexperienced roster into a coercive varsity team will be a challenge for the coach. Defense will be the team’s strength, returning Helmke, Elsemore and Michaud on a back line that and should prove formidable in front of first-year starter Burkey, who at 6-foot-5 is a very imposing sight in the goal and should be one of the top net-minders in the conference. In attack, fourth-year starter Draskovic will be be a threat to all teams and will be joined by fellow senior Dillon Burns and incoming freshman Suja on the front line. The biggest question is in the midfield, where the Red Riots lose four seniors, including first-team all conference and four-year starter Nem Kaurin and second-team all conference Akiba Davis, who were the heart and soul of last year’s team. This season, Pelletier, Fox, Whipple will look to make the middle of the field a strength again, but could take some time to come together as a group. Hoy said he thought it may take some time for his players to adjust to the speed and physicality of varsity soccer, but South Portland started off strong with a 2-2 draw against conference favorites Scarborough last Friday and should be ready to make some noise come playoff time.
Girls soccer
Aug. 31 @ Scarborough 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 @ Massabesic 6 p.m.
Sept. 8 Biddeford 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 Westbrook 6 p.m.
Sept. 15 Sanford 11 a.m.
Sept. 18 @ McAuley 4 p.m.
Sept. 20 Windham 6 p.m.
Sept. 22 @ Deering 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 25 @ Kennebunk 4 p.m.
Sept. 28 Bonny Eagle 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 Gorham 6 p.m.
Oct. 10 @ Thornton Academy 6 p.m.
Oct. 12 Portland 6 p.m.
Oct. 16 @ Marshwood 6 p.m.
Coach: Andy Pappas
Last year’s record: 6-6-2
Key players: Jenacce Bradbury (Sr.-midfield/forward) Jenna Wing (Sr.-midfield), Emma Dennison (Jr.-midfield), Shae O’Brien (Jr.-forward), Emma Russell (So.-goalkeeper)
Key games: Aug. 31 at Scarborough, Sept. 22 at Deering, Oct. 10 at Thornton Academy
Season outlook: After the departure of a strong senior class South Portland will be a younger team than last year, but still return key components from last year’s team that went .500 and lost in the state tournament preliminaries. Bradley will lead the team from midfield along with Wing and Dennison, while O’Brien will be looked upon to step-up and score some goals up front. Russell is new in goal, and made 12 saves in the Red Riots’ 4-0 opening game loss to perennial-powers Scarborough last Friday. Bettering their record from last year will be a good result for the Red Riots, and Pappas said he expects his younger team to be eager to play hard in every game.
Field hockey
Sept. 1 @ Westbrook 12 p.m.
Sept. 5 Portland 4 p.m.
Sept. 7 Massabesic 4 p.m.
Sept. 11 @ Marshwood 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 @ Kennebunk 4 p.m.
Sept. 15 @ Gorham 1 p.m.
Sept. 17 Scarborough 4 p.m.
Sept. 19 McAuley 4 p.m.
Sept. 25 @ Cheverus 4 p.m.
Sept. 27 Biddeford 4 p.m.
Sept. 29 Sanford 2 p.m.
Oct. 1 @ Windham 4 p.m.
Oct. 3 Deering 4 p.m.
Oct. 6 @ Noble 10 a.m.
Coach: Leslie Dyer
Last year’s record: 2-12, didn’t make playoffs
Key players: Lani Edwards (Sr.-goalkeeper), Elizabeth Albert (Sr.-forward), Jaclyn Salevsky (Sr.-forward), Maddie Hasson (Fr.-midfielder)
Key games: Sept. 7 vs. Massabesic, Sept. 17 vs. Scarborough, Sept. 29 vs. Sanford
Season outlook: After making it to the Western Maine quarterfinals in Dyer’s first season in 2010, the Red Riots went through a rebuilding process last year but look set to compete for a playoff spot again this fall. Edwards returns for her fourth year starting in goal and should anchor the defense as one of the state’s best shot-stoppers. Albert and Salevesky will be looked upon to provide leadership and score the goals from up front, while freshman Hasson will be thrown into the fray right away in midfield. Western Class A is a deep and difficult conference this season, and getting back to the postseason will be a good accomplishment and step in the right direction for the Red Riots.
Football
Aug. 31 Windham 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 @ Biddeford 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 Cheverus 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 @ Kennebunk 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 @ Massabesic 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 Sanford 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 @ Deering 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 Portland 1 p.m.
Coach: Steve Stinson
Last year’s record: 7-3, lost in Western Maine semifinals
Key players: Connor McVane, (Sr.-RB/LB), Cody Munson (Sr.-OL/DL), Ryan Ely (Sr.-OL/DL), Liam Rottkov, (Sr.-OL/DL), Duncan Preston (Jr.-QB/DB), Joey DiBiase (Jr.-RB/DB), Matt Hammond (So.-RB/LB), Hayden Owen (So.-WR/DB)
Key games: Sept. 7 vs. Biddeford, Oct. 12 vs. Sanford, Oct. 20 vs. Portland
Season outlook: The Red Riots lose 14 starters off a team that made a surprising run to the Class A semifinals last fall. They’ll look to rebuild behind experienced offensive and defensive lines led by seniors Munson, Rotkov and Ely. Preston is in his first year starting at quarterback and is a dual threat Stinson said he thinks the team can build around. DiBiase, McVane and Hammond will be looked upon to carry the load out of the backfield. South Portland got run over in its first game of the year against a more experienced and physical Windham squad and will need a strong bounce-back against Biddeford this Friday to right the ship. Penalties and mistakes were costly against the Eagles, and Stinson said what his team needed most was simply more game-time experience.
Golf
Aug. 30 Deering 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 Portland 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 @ Scarborough 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 Cheverus 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 @ Deering 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 @Portland 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 Scarborough 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 @ Cheverus 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 @ Falmouth 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 Falmouth 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 State Team Champ TBA
Coach: Tom Hyland
Last year’s record: 0-10
Key players: Derek Tanoia, Jackman Mickiewicz, Griffin Henderson, Chris Foley, Tanner Hyland, Matt Pelletier
Key Matches: Aug. 30 vs. Deering, Sept. 6 at Scarborough, Sept. 25 at Cheverus,
Season outlook: Hyland is in his first year with the program and says he’s looking forward to working with the team and making improvements that will translate to a winning attitude and some wins as a result. His team will be young but should steadily improve through the fall, with an eye towards the future.
Boys and Girls ?Cross Country
Aug. 30 @ SMAA Relays 4 p.m.
Sept. 7 @ Scarborough 4 p.m.
Sept. 14 Home 4 p.m.
Sept. 21 @ Windham 4 p.m.
Sept. 28 @ Westbrook 4 p.m.
Oct. 5 @ Biddeford 4 p.m.
Oct. 12 @ Deering 4 p.m.
South Portland’s Damjan Draskovic will be a threat in the Red Riot attack. Send questions/comments to the editors.
