Southern Maine avoided the worst of Hurricane Lee last weekend and as a result, it was a pretty smooth week for local teams to get their games in.
It may seem hard to believe, but some squads are already nearing the midway point of the 2023 regular season and the action is just heating up.
Here’s a look back at the week that was and a glimpse at what’s to come.
Football
All three local football teams went down to defeat last Friday.
South Portland was the most competitive, falling, 31-20, at Sanford to drop to 1-2. The Red Riots trailed, 12-0, after one period, then got a 2-yard touchdown run from Matthew Frey. After the Spartans added a TD, a Frey 5-yard scoring run pulled South Portland within 19-13 at halftime. Frey’s third scoring run, from 53-yards out, cut the deficit to 25-20 in the fourth period, but Sanford added one more score to put it away. The Red Riots host 0-3 Gorham Friday night.
Scarborough fell to 0-2 with a 39-0 setback at reigning Class A state champion Oxford Hills. The Red Storm trailed, 14-0, after one quarter and 24-0 at halftime. The Vikings put it away with 15 points in the fourth period. Scarborough will try again for its first victory Friday at Bonny Eagle (2-1).
Cape Elizabeth dropped to 0-3 with a 28-0 home loss to Cheverus. The Stags scored one touchdown in each quarter. The Capers visit Fryeburg Academy (2-1) Friday night.
Boys’ soccer
Cape Elizabeth’s Nathan Ashe eludes a Yarmouth defender during the Capers’ 4-1 home loss last week. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster.
Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ soccer team hoped to avenge last year’s painful playoff loss when it hosted three-time Class B champion Yarmouth last Thursday, but the Capers instead fell to 3-1-1 with a 4-1 setback. After falling behind, 2-0, at the half, Cape Elizabeth got a penalty kick goal from Rory O’Grady, but couldn’t pull even and the Clippers put it away late.
“There’s a lot of great things to take away from this,” said longtime Capers coach Ben Raymond. “We didn’t wind up on the right side of what we wanted, but it’s the fifth game of the season. I thought we did a nice job in the midfield and moved the ball well. I’m really pleased with how we moved the ball. The next step is being a little more dangerous after possession. That’s something (Yarmouth) does really well.
“We had a hard time dealing with their athleticism. They were first to a lot of balls. They run hard through every single ball. We jogged through some balls and there’s a difference right there. They’re very good in the air, especially in our defensive box. We’re just trying to replace some leaders we had last year who helped direct things, but the kids are figuring it out.
Tuesday, Cape Elizabeth improved to 4-1-1 with a 4-2 home win over Fryeburg Academy. Tully Haydar scored twice, while Killian Lathrop and Henry Moore added one goal apiece. The Capers hosted York Thursday and welcome Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday of next week.
“Our schedule helps us,” Raymond said. “This whole season is about improving as much as we can.”
Scarborough, the reigning Class A South champion, lost, 1-0, at Kennebunk last week, then evened its record at 2-2-1 Tuesday with a 7-0 home victory over Sanford. Kilson Joao had three goals, Kevine Paulino added two and Andrew Heanssler and Cooper Mallar finished with one apiece. The Red Storm were at Marshwood Thursday, then host undefeated Portland Tuesday of next week.
South Portland fell to 1-2-2 Tuesday after a 2-1 loss at Gorham. The Red Riots hosted Deering Thursday and welcome Biddeford Tuesday of next week.
Girls’ soccer
Cape Elizabeth’s Elizabeth Hooper battles for possession during last week’s loss at Yarmouth. Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Press Herald.
On the girls’ side, reigning Class A champion Scarborough saw its two-year, 21-game win streak come to a shocking halt Monday with a 3-2 overtime loss to Thornton Academy, which was also the last team to beat the Red Storm, in the 2021 Class A South quarterfinals. Scarborough fell behind 2-0, but got a goal from Lana Djuranovic, then forced it when Delia Fravert scored on a header with 8 seconds left in regulation, but the Golden Trojans got the winner in OT. The Red Storm were coming off a 5-0 victory at Kennebunk. Sarah LeFebvre, Maggie Booth, Talia Borelli, Emmie Flaker and Paige Garlock all scored in that one, while Fravert had three assists and goalkeeper Sophia Rinaldi saved five shots. Scarborough (3-1) hosted Cheverus Wednesday, then has a showdown at Windham Monday (see our website for both game stories).
South Portland improved to 2-0-1 last Friday with a 2-0 home win over Bonny Eagle. Nola Gorneau and Emma Travis scored first half goals. The Red Riots were at Gorham Wednesday, host Massabesic Saturday and visit Scarborough Wednesday of next week.
In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth suffered its first loss, 1-0, at reigning Class B champion Yarmouth last Thursday. the Clippers scored in the 16th minute and despite putting seven shots on frame, the Capers couldn’t answer.
“Kudos to Yarmouth,” first-year Cape Elizabeth coach Branden Noltkamper said. “It’s fun to play these guys. They’re organized. They had a game plan. They were much better than us today. It’s a good learning moment. I didn’t think it would be heavily one-sided. We made one mistake defensively and it cost us. We didn’t find that final pass. We didn’t execute like we wanted to. It’s the first time we’d gone down all year and I think the moment got to us a little bit. We have to step up a little more and finish our chances. We’ll bounce back. We’re very young this year. We’ll grow from this.”
Tuesday, the Capers improved to 5-1 after a 8-0 win at Fryeburg Academy. CC Duryee led a balanced attack with a pair of goals. Cape Elizabeth hosted York Thursday and travels to Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday of next week.
Field hockey
Cape Elizabeth’s field hockey team earned a landmark victory last week, beating host York, 3-2, earning its first win over the Wildcats since the start of the century. Sophia Chung, Lucy Fougere and Jenna Tuttle scored the goals. Monday, the Capers fell to 4-2 with a 1-0 home loss to Lake Region. Cape Elizabeth goes to undefeated Yarmouth Saturday (see our website for game story) and welcomes Poland Wednesday of next week.
Scarborough beat visiting Windham (3-1) and host Thornton Academy (6-1) last week, then fell to 3-2 Tuesday after a 2-1 loss at Gorham. Sabrina Ocampo scored from Caroline Hartley and goalie Jamila Mohamed made nine saves. The Red Storm hosted Marshwood Thursday, go to Massabesic Monday and welcome Biddeford Wednesday of next week.
The South Portland/Westbrook co-op team fell to 1-3 after a 6-3 home loss to Sanford last week. Jane Phillips had two goals and Mackenzie Hall one. The squad was at Kennebunk Wednesday, visits Biddeford Monday and plays host to Thornton Academy Wednesday of next week.
Volleyball
Scarborough’s Natalie Moynihan receives a serve during Tuesday’s home loss to Gorham. Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Press Herald
Scarborough’s volleyball team suffered its first loss last week, a 3-0 decision at reigning Class A champion Biddeford. Tuesday, the Red Storm fell to 4-2 with a five-set (25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 12-15) home loss to Gorham. Olivia Smith had 37 assists, Natalie Moynihan finished with 17 kills and six aces, Julia Strouse added 11 kills and Alana Sawyer had eight kills.
“I think we’re pretty evenly matched,” said Scarborough first-year coach Nicole Petherbridge. “We know their strengths and they know ours. It was back-and-forth the whole time. Both teams made adjustments on the fly.”
Scarborough was at Sanford Thursday and hosts Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.
“We have some things to fix and we’ll make those adjustments,” said Petherbridge. “I think we just need to continue our never-quit mentality.”
Cape Elizabeth suffered its first loss in four outings Monday when it let a two-set lead slip away in a five-game (25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 18-25, 9-15) loss at Yarmouth. After playing at York Wednesday, the Capers go to Scarborough Tuesday of next week.
South Portland dropped to 1-5 after a straight-set loss at Gorham last week and a 3-0 home loss to Kennebunk Tuesday. The Red Riots were at Biddeford Thursday and host Windham Monday.
Cross country
The Southern Maine Classic cross country race, scheduled for Gorham Monday, was postponed by bad weather.
Golf
Scarborough’s golf team improved to 7-0 after recent victories over Falmouth (7-6) and Cheverus (13-0).
South Portland improved to 2-4 after downing Deering (12.5-0.5).
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
