The fall sports season continues to roll along with memorable action involving local squads.
The official arrival of autumn is Wednesday, so buckle up as each day will be more impactful than the last.
Here’s a look back at the week that was:
Football
Portland’s football team improved to 3-0 Friday night after a 21-6 home win over Noble. The Bulldogs led, 7-0, at halftime, thanks to a 2-yard Kennedy Charles touchdown run, but the Knights answered early in the second half to make it a one-point game. Portland then put it away late on long touchdown runs from Brandon Boyle (14 carries, 101 yards) and quarterback Grant Crosby (9 rushes, 82 yards) and a key interception from Franco Katunda. Charles finished with 14 tackles. The Bulldogs have a road test Friday at 1-2 Gorham (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story).
Deering fell to 0-3 with a 58-14 home loss to Massabesic. The Rams fell behind, 30-0, after one quarter, 51-0 at halftime and 58-0 after three periods. In the fourth quarter, Dempsey Brady threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Santino Cavallaro and a 9-yard strike to Remijo Wani. The Rams visit 2-1 Kennebunk Saturday.
Cheverus wasn’t able to play for the second consecutive week. The Stags (1-0) were on the brink of kicking off Saturday’s home game against Lake Region, when the game was first stopped, then canceled due to an apparent COVID issue. Cheverus tries again to play its second game Friday night at Spruce Mountain (2-1).
Boys’ soccer
Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team, the two-time reigning Class C state champion, improved to 5-0 on the season and made it 19 straight victories in a three-season span after triumphing last week at Sacopee Valley (3-0) and at home over Richmond (4-1). In the win over the Hawks, Samir Sayed scored twice and Matt Adey converted a 50-yard direct kick. Against the Bobcats, Sayed and Jacob Woodman scored first half goals and Woodman and Adey added second half tallies. The Flyers hoped to stay undefeated Tuesday when Class B South contender Cape Elizabeth paid a visit, then they welcome rival North Yarmouth Academy Friday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game stories) before going to Greely Tuesday of next week.
In Class A, Portland improved to 4-2 after victories last week over visiting Biddeford (4-1), at Thornton Academy (3-0) and visiting Westbrook (7-0). Against the Tigers, Nick Paterniti scored a goal and had two assists, while Jack Fink, Martin Kalala and Jack Lannon all found the net as well. In the win over the Golden Trojans, Kalala, Kia Dilamini and Oliver Hettenbach all scored once. Against the Blue Blazes, Kalala, Kosta Nedeljkovic and E.J. Sungubele had two goals apiece, while Cristo Vumpa added the other. The Bulldogs have a pivotal showdown at undefeated Scarborough Wednesday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and welcome South Portland Friday.
Deering won its third straight game, 2-1, over visiting Marshwood last Tuesday, then fell to 3-2 after a 4-1 home loss to Gorham Saturday. In the victory over the Hawks, Jeanno Ndayishimiye scored the tying goal and Ezekiel Appel produced the winner with seven minutes to go. In the setback, Ndayishimiye had the Rams’ lone goal. Deering was at Falmouth Monday and visits Cheverus Wednesday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game stories).
Cheverus beat visiting Massabesic, 7-0, last Monday, then fell to 2-3-1 after a 5-0 home loss to Gorham and a 0-0 tie at Kennebunk. In the victory, Jackson Kingsley scored two goals, while Anton Behuniak, Liam Fedirizzi, Brady Hoglund, Emmet Schuele and Oden Strock all added one. The Stags welcome Deering Wednesday and play at reigning Class A champion Falmouth Saturday.
Girls’ soccer
On the girls’ side, Cheverus suffered its first loss last Thursday, 3-1, at Gorham, to fall to 3-1 on the season. Annie Vigue scored the lone goal. The Stags were at Deering Tuesday, host Falmouth Thursday and welcome Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.
Deering played host Marshwood to a 1-1 tie and lost at home to Gorham (2-0) last week to fall to 1-3-1. Elsa Freeman had the goal against the Hawks, while goalkeeper Courtney Jackson stopped three shots. In the loss to Gorham, Jackson made eight saves. After hosting Cheverus Tuesday, the Rams welcome Falmouth Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and play host to Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.
Portland sandwiched victories at Biddeford (3-1) and Westbrook (7-1) around a 2-1 overtime home loss to Thornton Academy last week to improve to 2-4. Against the Tigers, Annalise Collins scored two goals, Eliza Stein had a goal and two assists and goalkeeper Vanessa Connolly made 13 saves. In the loss, Stein scored and Connolly stopped 16 shots. In the win over the Blue Blazes, Collins and Kendall Sniper both scored twice, while Stein, Laney Randall and Elizabeth Littel added one goal apiece. The Bulldogs hosted three-time reigning Class A South champion Scarborough Tuesday, then visit South Portland Thursday.
Waynflete evened its record at 2-2 after home wins last week over Sacopee Valley (4-0) and Richmond (1-0). Against the Hawks, Lucy Sarno scored two goals, and Iris Stutzman and Izzy Gleason added one apiece. In the victory over the Bobcats, Lucy Hart scored the goal and goalkeeper Jesse Connors denied a pair of penalty kicks. After going to two-time reigning Class B champion Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, the Flyers visit NYA Thursday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for game story) and play host to Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week.
Field hockey
Cheverus’ Lily Johnson chases a loose ball during last week’s 1-0 win over Scarborough. Brianna Soukup / Portland Press Herald
Cheverus’ field hockey team passed a huge test to stay undefeated last week. The Stags improved to 4-0 by holding off visiting Scarborough, 1-0, in a battle of unbeaten teams. Lucy Johnson scored early and the Cheverus defense did the rest, allowing just three shots, which were all saved by goalie Logan LeFevre.
“It was very different because we haven’t really faced that kind of intensity, but the whole team kept up the energy and the sideline was amazing and we were really positive on the field and did great,” Johnson said.
“I was kind of stressed out, but I knew my defense had my back,” LeFevre said. “I trusted them and it really helped.”
“My girls pushed through the end and played hard until the buzzer sounded,” added Stags coach Theresa Hendrix. “I’m super proud of our defense. We talk all the time about defense starting with our forwards all the way back. Our defense has worked hard and our goalies have worked extremely hard. They trust in each other.”
Cheverus was at Bonny Eagle Monday, hosts Kennebunk Wednesday, visits Westbrook Friday and welcomes Windham Tuesday of next week.
“It’s about what the girls bring each day,” Hendrix said. “There are a lot of good teams this year. If we keep showing up and playing our game, we’ll be competitive in each of them. We’re still working on playing together and making connections and communicating on the field.”
Portland/Deering fell to 0-6 after losses at Westbrook (2-0) and at home to Windham (6-1) last week. Ella Burdin stopped 16 shots against the Blue Blazes, while Burdin made 23 saves and Ainsley Dunn scored the goal in the loss to the Eagles. Portland/Deering was at Thornton Academy Monday, hosts Noble Thursday, goes to Gorham Friday and welcomes South Portland Tuesday of next week.
The North Yarmouth Academy/Waynflete co-op team improved to 3-2 after downing host Wells (3-1), host Sacopee Valley (3-1) and visiting Traip Academy (5-0) last week. Emily Kalinich and Emilia McKenney both scored twice, while Tilsley Kelly added a goal in the win over the Rangers.
“It is great to be back this year,” NYA/Waynflete coach Annika King said. “It’s been awhile since we were competitive. We’re still a new co-op, so we’re working through the components of bringing two schools together. Having all these Waynflete kids helps with numbers. It’s the biggest group I’ve had in my time. Things are going great. We have a nice group offensively and defensively. We have a great mix.”
NYA/Waynflete goes to St. Dom’s Thursday and visits Wells Monday.
Volleyball
Deering’s volleyball team was 2-3 after a straight-set home win over Portland and a five-set home loss to Bonny Eagle last week. After playing at Kennebunk Monday, the Rams are at Windham Wednesday and visit Portland next Monday.
Cheverus fell to 0-4 after last week’s straight-set (14-25, 16-25, 15-25) home loss to Sanford. The Stags were home with two-time reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday, go to Biddeford Wednesday, host Brunswick Friday and welcome Gorham Monday.
Portland started 0-3 after straight-set losses last week at Deering, at Marshwood (8-25, 13-25, 20-25) and at home to two-time reigning Class A champion Falmouth (8-25, 11-25, 17-25). After visiting Thornton Academy Monday, the Bulldogs are home with Sanford Wednesday, play at Bonny Eagle Friday and host Deering next Monday.
Cross country
Portland’s Miles Fischer runs in Saturday’s Southern Maine Classic Invitational. The Bulldogs finished second out of 24 scoring teams. Fischer was 19th individually. John Jensenius / For The Forecaster
The Southern Maine Classic Invitational cross country meet was held Saturday in Gorham. The Portland boys finished second to Cape Elizabeth and were paced individually by Nathan Blades (17th, in 17 minutes, 27.34 seconds). Cheverus placed 14th and was led by Jesse Cadigan (16th, 17:27.24). In the girls’ competition, won by Bonny Eagle, Cheverus came in ninth. Annabelle Brooks was fifth individually (19:28.41). Portland didn’t score as a team, but freshman Samantha Moore had the 13th-fastest time (20:24.60).
Waynflete joined Lake Region, Traip Academy and Wells at York. The Flyers girls were second to York, as Sawyer Harris had the second-best individual time (21:22). The boys were fourth as a team and were led by Sawyer Linehan (10th, 19:20).
Golf
On the links, Cheverus was 3-3 after a 13-0 loss to South Portland and a 13-0 win over Deering last week. The Stags face Scarborough Thursday.
Deering fell to 0-5 after 13-0 losses last week to Scarborough and Cheverus. The Rams face Falmouth Thursday.
Portland fell to 1-4 after a 10.5-2.5 loss to Scarborough last week. The Bulldogs faced Cheverus Tuesday.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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