It was always easy last week to get games started or completed, but teams still managed to enjoy some promising results, including more success on the gridiron.

We’re still early in the campaign and the best is yet to come, but there’s a lot of good things to recap from the week that was:

Football

All three city teams have started the season 2-0 for the first time in at least two decades.

The most impressive start belongs to Deering, which won just once a year ago and captured only three games total between 2019-22. After beating host Marshwood, 17-7, in their opener, the Rams went to Mt. Blue last Friday night and rolled, 35-6. Pedro Lombi gave Deering a 7-0 first quarter lead, thanks to a 25-yard touchdown run. Joey Foley then scored for the first time, on a 5-yard run, but the Cougars pulled within 13-6 at halftime. The Rams pulled away in the second half, as Foley scored on runs of 38-yards and 23-yards in the third period, then he added a fourth TD, from a yard out, in the fourth. Deering seeks its first 3-0 start since 2011 when it hosts Biddeford (0-2) Friday night (see our website for game story).

Portland, which pulled off a 35-28 road upset over perennial powerhouse Thornton Academy in its opener, defeated visiting Edward Little, 40-6, Friday, in a game shortened to one half by bad weather. Aidan McGowan scored on first quarter touchdowns run of 5- and 7- yards, then Hunter Temple made it 18-0 with a 78-yard TD scamper. After the Red Eddies got on the board thanks to a circus catch, McGowan scored on a 5-yard run. In the second period, Reegan Buck returned an interception for a score and McGowan accounted for the final score with a 5-yard touchdown run. McGowan finished with 110 yards and four TDs on 13 carries. Freshman place-kicker Justin Bouchard made two of three extra point attempts.

“It was a decent half of football for us,” said Bulldogs first-year coach Sean Green. “We have a lot to work on and clean up as a team. That said, we cleaned up a lot from last week. No false starts or procedure penalties on offense. We were in a lot more second-and third-and-manageables. Defensively, we played pretty well. A couple of miscommunications led to a big play for them. Special teams had its ups and downs. We just need to keep working on the little things.”

Portland goes to 1-1 Lewiston Friday.

Cheverus, which pulled away for a 41-14 home win over York in its first game, held on for dear life to beat visiting Gorham, 21-20, Saturday. After falling behind, 6-0, after one quarter, the Stags went on top to stay when Joe Osei scored on a 17-yard run in the second period. Matt Baker scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter, then Osei made it 21-6 with an 8-yard scoring scamper early in the fourth, but the Rams pulled within 21-14, then got another touchdown before coming up short on a potential game-winning two-point conversion. Cheverus visits 0-2 Cape Elizabeth Friday.

Boys’ soccer

Waynflete’s four-time reigning Class C state champion boys’ soccer team, which began 1-1, returned from the school’s Outdoor Experience break and finally played a game after a 10-day hiatus Tuesday when it visited Class B South power Greely. The Flyers host York Thursday and welcome reigning Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

Portland improved to 2-0-1 with wins last week at Marshwood (3-0) and Noble (4-0). Against the Hawks, Brandon Chacon had two goals, while Baptiste Muanda also scored. In the win over the Knights, Samuel Francis and Paulo Joao each scored two goals and Calvin Hale made two saves. The Bulldogs hosted Falmouth Tuesday, go to Sanford Thursday and welcome Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

Deering also improved to 2-0-1 after wins last week over visiting Cheverus (5-3) and at Westbrook (4-3). The Rams erased a three-goal halftime lead against the Stags, as Chandrel Mangele Laza had three goals, Ethan Fisher and Adao Lufumbo-Mbenza also scored and Avery Bassi-Lawrence finished with three assists. In the win over the Blue Blazes, Motasim Abdalla scored two goals and Nick Mboumba and Peter Sargent found the net as well. Goalkeeper Abdala Al-Hussaini made seven saves. Deering was home against Marshwood Tuesday, visits Thornton Academy Thursday and welcomes Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus fell to 0-2 after letting a three-goal halftime lead slip away in a 5-3 setback at Deering last week, then got in the win column last Thursday with a 3-0 home win over Thornton Academy. Anton Behuniak, Chris Bitagilayi and Shane McGrath all scored. The Stags were home with Massabesic Tuesday, visit Bonny Eagle Thursday, then play host to Falmouth Monday (see our website for game story).

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, Deering, which fell to 0-2 after a 4-0 home loss to Gorham last Wednesday (despite 11 saves from goalkeeper Sophie Hill), got in the win column Friday, 3-0, at Massabesic. Standout Elsa Freeman scored all three goals. The Rams welcome Noble Wednesday and visit Westbrook Monday.

Cheverus was 1-1-1 at the start of the week after tying host South Portland (1-1) and beating visiting Westbrook (7-1). Alaina Holmes had the tying goal against the Red Riots. In the win over the Blue Blazes, the Stags had a 5-0 lead late in the first half on Friday when thunderstorms ended play and by rule, the teams had to restart on Saturday. That proved to be no problem, as Cheverus got two goals apiece from Jillian Foley, Sophia Monfa and Annie Vigue and another from Hailey Lamontagne, her first at the varsity level. The Stags go to Thornton Academy Wednesday and host Portland Friday (see our website for game story).

Portland fell to 0-3 after losses last week at Marshwood (6-1) and Windham (6-0). The Bulldogs seek their first victory Wednesday at home versus Massabesic, then travel to Cheverus Friday.

Waynflete, which started 2-0, returned to action with a key test Tuesday at home versus Class B South contender Greely (see our website for game story). The Flyers visit York Thursday and welcome Old Orchard Beach Monday.

Field hockey

Cheverus’ juggernaut field hockey team, the reigning Class A South champion, which beat Biddeford in its opener, 5-0, was supposed to go to Noble last Thursday, but due to excessive heat, the contest was postponed. The Stags then improved to 2-0 Monday night wit ha 7-1 victory at Scarborough, the team’s 34th in a row in the regular season.

Cheverus got an early rebound goal from Zoey Radford, but the Stags were held in check by the Scarborough defense for most of the rest of the first half. Finally, with 29 seconds left, Lily Johnson made it 2-0 and Cheverus broke it open in the third quarter, as Johnson scored again, Lucy Johnson added two goals and freshman Sydney Brunelle also rattled the cage. Brunelle added a second goal in the fourth quarter and the Stags rolled to victory.

“I think that second goal got us going,” said Lily Johnson. “It motivated us to pick it up. We were just getting warmed up. I think once we get going and we start connecting our passses and working as a team, a lot of good things can happen. I think we’re a very strong team. We lost some seniors who were really beneficial, but we’re building our defense. Our offense is amazing and we’re working well together.”

“It was a little nervewracking, but our whole team was really excited to get a game, especially after practicing all week in not so good weather,” Lucy Johnson said. “It was a fun game. Especially on turf. It was a little frustrating, but we knew we had to push offensively and get the ball in the circle. Their goaltender had great saves, but she gave up some rebounds, so we knew we had to keep shooting and crash for rebounds.”

“We’re making sure we’re working together and playing together, especially against teams like this,” added Cheverus coach Theresa Arsenault. “It took us a minute to settle in and play together and create space. Scarborough has great defense. They bring all their players and pack it in. Open looks are hard to come by. We hoped to get a lot of corners and be able to get numbers up to produce. That goal got us excited going into the second (half).”

The Stags look to continue their dominant Wednesday at home versus Thornton Academy. They visit Gorham Friday and host Marshwood Tuesday of next week.

“This game is in the past and we’ll focus on TA Wednesday,” Lucy Johnson said.

“We’ll reflect tonight, then come back tomorrow and prepare for our next game,” said Arsenault. “We kept the same process of the past three years and focus on the things we can do now to be great tomorrow and hope over time, it will build to success at the end.”

Portland/Deering began with losses to visiting Bonny Eagle (1-0) and host South Portland/Westbrook (2-0). Portland/Deering then gave new coach Kristen Rogers her first victory Monday 3-2, in overtime, at Thornton Academy Monday. Portland/Deering welcomes Gorham Thursday and travels to Marshwood Friday.

Waynflete, which returned to varsity status with a 1-0 loss to Sacopee Valley, returns to action Wednesday at St. Dom’s. After welcoming Fryeburg Academy Saturday, the Flyers visit Sacopee Valley Monday.

Volleyball

Portland’s volleyball team, which won just four of 14 matches in 2022, improved to 2-0 after a 3-0 win at Massabesic Friday. The Bulldogs hosted Westbrook Tuesday, go to Marshwood Thursday and welcome Sanford Tuesday of next week.

Deering was 2-1 after a 3-0 (16-25, 22-25, 19-25) loss at Gorham and a 3-0 win at Marshwood. The Rams welcomed Noble Tuesday, go to Kennebunk Thursday and play host to Cheverus Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus also improved to 2-1 after four-set victories at South Portland (19-25, 25-22, 25-9, 25-23) and at home over Sanford. After visiting Windham Monday, the Stags welcome Massabesic Thursday, then go to Deering Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

Portland’s powerhouse girls’ cross country team defeated Falmouth and host Thornton Academy last week in a weather-shortened meet, as Samantha Moore won the race in 18 minutes, 31 seconds. Ava Chadbourne (20:15) placed second. The boys’ meet wasn’t completed.

Cheverus’ girls beat Windham, South Portland, Massabesic and host Biddeford. The Stags were led by Allie Schmitt, who was first in 22:10.67. Cheverus’ boys were also first at Biddeford. The Stags were paced by Ambrose McCullough (second, 18:03.04).

Deering ran its first meet, a four-team meet at Sanford Monday. The boys were third (Gorham finished first), as Ellis Cook was second individually (17:35.60). The Rams girls didn’t score as a team (Kennebunk was first). Zabel Kasabian had the 11th-best time (24:56.79).

Waynflete starts Saturday at the Southern Maine Classic in Gorham.

Golf

Cheverus’ golf team dropped a narrow 7-6 decision to powerhouse Falmouth, then evened its record at 2-2 with a 10.5-2.5 victory over South Portland.

Deering was 1-3 after beating Portland (8.5-4.5) and losing to Scarborough (12-1).

Portland dropped to 1-3 after losing to Deering (8.5-4.5) and Falmouth (13-0).

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

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