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

The Falmouth/Greely co-op football team, which lost to Gorham in its opener, then had a COVID-related cancellation against Windham, appeared to be out of a game again last weekend, when its contest at Mt. Blue was canceled for the same reason, but Falmouth/Greely was able to schedule a game last-minute against Medomak Valley and Saturday evening at home, after a weather delay pushed kickoff back a couple hours, the squad was able to even its record at 1-1 with a 16-8 victory. After a scoreless first half, quarterback Cooper Bush rushed for a a 9-yard touchdown, then threw a two-point conversion pass to Max Hau. Bush and Teddy Hanley then hooked up for an 18-yard pass and Bush again found Hau for the two-point play. That was enough to allow the squad to hold on.

“The reality of this pandemic just comes home real hard,” Falmouth/Greely coach John Fitzsimmons said. “Us canceling on a team, and then a team canceling on us, and then scrambling and hoping to find another opponent. It’s an insight into what the season will be like all along. And you better play every game you can and enjoy it.”

Falmouth/Greely looks to go over the .500 mark when it hosts Skowhegan (0-3) Friday night.

Freeport suffered its first loss in three games last weekend, falling at Foxcroft Academy, 28-12. The Falcons are at 0-2 Lisbon Saturday.

Yarmouth fell to 1-2 after a 44-20 home loss to Spruce Mountain. The game was tied, 8-8, at halftime, but the Phoenix pulled away in the second half. A highlight for the Clippers was a 50-yard touchdown pass from Spencer LaBrecque to Michael McGonagle. Yarmouth hopes to get back in the win column Friday at 1-2 Gray-New Gloucester.

Boys’ soccer

Falmouth boys’ soccer team, the reigning Class A champion, was 4-0-1 after a 1-0 home win over Kennebunk and a 1-1 home tie against Deering. In the win, Mason Farr scored the lone goal. Against Deering, Charlie Adams converted a first-half penalty kick, but the Navigators couldn’t hold the lead.

“We’re a good team, but we’re young,” said longtime Falmouth coach Dave Halligan said. “We’re small and they wore us down a little bit. I can’t fault the effort. The things we had problems with we can solve. ”

The Navigators go to Bonny Eagle Wednesday, then host Cheverus Saturday.

“Good players and good teams make adjustments,” Halligan said. “I’m pleased where we are right now. The league is very even. You look at the scores and everyone is beating everyone. It’s one of those years where there isn’t one team head and shoulders above the others. We’re going to have a lot of one-goal games.”

Yarmouth, the reigning Class B state champion, improved to 5-0 after sandwiching home wins last week over Greely (2-1) and Poland (5-0) around a 5-1 victory at North Yarmouth Academy. Against the Rangers, the Clippers fell behind early, but rallied to prevail behind goals from Stevie Walsh and Truman Peters (off a Liam Hickey assist).

“This was a great test for us to test our skills against another great program,” Peters said. “Greely played their hearts out. They’re a team to watch out for.”

“I think we just need to keep practicing hard,” Hickey said. “This was a great game to get us ready for the rest of the season.”

“We needed this test,” added longtime Yarmouth coach Mike Hagerty. “We get everyone’s best shot. It was a great game to be in. It feels like we get close games from Greely since forever.”

In the win over the Panthers, Steve Fulton and Aiden Kamm both scored twice, while Will Caruso added one goal. Against the Knights, Fulton scored twice more, while Caruso, Kamm and Sawyer Flowerdew added one goal apiece. The Clippers go to Fryeburg Academy Friday, then visit Freeport Monday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/).

Greely lost, 2-1, at Yarmouth, then improved to 3-2 Friday with an 8-1 home victory over Lake Region. Thomas Bennert scored against the Clippers, but the Rangers couldn’t hold on.

“We were a team without an identity, so tonight was good,” longtime Greely coach Mike Andreasen said. “Once they went ahead, we came alive and had some chances. I like where we are. We have tough kids. We’re not the most technical team, but we make up for it with fight. I was just encouraged with how we played.”

In the win, Bennert scored four goals, while Ben Hanson, Cam Irish, Owen Piesik and Liam Sheff added goals and Caleb Knox finished with three assists. The Rangers are home versus Sacopee Valley Thursday, visit Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and play host to two-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

“We can work on some things and get healthy, Andreasen said. “We’re just hoping to get better every day.”

Freeport won at Lake Region (8-0) and fell at Cape Elizabeth (1-0) last week and was 3-2 entering Tuesday’s home game versus Fryeburg Academy. In the victory, Nick Intraversato and Gus Wing both scored two goals, while Eli Andresen, Alek Gideon, Oliver Harvey and Owen Rusiecki all added one apiece. The Falcons host Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, then welcome Yarmouth Monday.

Reigning Class D South champion NYA won at St. Dom’s last week, 5-0, then fell to 3-3 after home losses to Yarmouth (5-1) and Traip Academy (2-0). In the victory, Chas Rohde had two goals, while Chad Beaufils, Daxton St. Hilaire and Brayden Warde added one apiece. Against the Clippers, Bryce Poulin scored the Panthers goal. NYA travels to Waynflete Thursday and visits Lake Region Monday.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, two-time reigning Class D champion NYA improved to 5-0 last week after beating visiting St. Dom’s (6-1) and blanking visiting Traip Academy (6-0). Against the Saints, Angel Huntsman and Emily Robbins both scored twice, while Jazzy Huntsman and Michala Wallace had the other goals.

“It’s been a blast this season,” Angel Huntsman said. “We are very skilled. It starts from our freshmen to our seniors. Our team chemistry has been the best so far.”

“Angel’s a phenomenal athlete,” said Panthers coach Ricky Doyon. “She’s so competitive. She wants to be the best at everything. She likes to distribute, just like in basketball. She’s a great kid to have on the team.”

In the win over the Rangers, Angel Huntsman scored three goals, Maggie Holt added a pair and Hayden Wienckowski finished with one. NYA welcomes Waynflete Thursday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for story) and plays at St. Dom’s Saturday before going to Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

“We have some good tests coming up and we need some tests,” Doyon said. “I want for us to control the ball and move it quicker, that will help us with our speed. If more girls can get touches on the ball, the better off we are. I think we have one of the top groups soccer skill-wise. I’d take the previous few teams any day of the week and this is a fun group here.”

In Class A, Falmouth improved to 3-0-1 last week after a 3-0 win at Kennebunk behind goals from Abbie Ford, Gwen Long and Pearl Quinn, and five saves from goalkeeper Jordan Wolf. The Navigators hosted Bonny Eagle Tuesday, play at Cheverus Thursday, visit Deering Saturday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for story) and welcome Windham Tuesday of next week.

In Class B, Yarmouth stretched its win streak to four games and improved to 4-1 after downing host Greely (2-1) and host Poland (9-0) last week. Ava Feeley scored both goals against the Rangers. In the win over the Knights, Feeley had three goals, Trinity Sinker added a pair and Katelyn D’Appolonia, Vada Harpool, Taylor Oranellas and Neena Panozzo all had one. The Clippers welcome Fryeburg Academy Friday, play host to Lake Region Monday and welcome NYA Tuesday of next week.

Greely dropped a 2-1 home decision to Yarmouth last Tuesday, then improved to 3-2 Friday with a 4-1 victory at Lake Region. In the loss, Carly Asherman had the goal. Against the Lakers, Asherman, Elle Jowett, Allie Read and Eva Williams all scored once. The Rangers hosted Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, go to Sacopee Valley Friday and visit Wells Tuesday of next week.

Freeport got its first victory last Tuesday, 7-0, over visiting Lake Region, then fell to 1-4 after a 2-0 home setback to two-time reigning Class B champion Cape Elizabeth. In the win, Luci Bourgeois scored three times, while Molly Cobbs, Rosie Panenka, Helen Pope and Riley Simon had one goal apiece. After going to Fryeburg Academy Tuesday, the Falcons visit Gray-New Gloucester Saturday.

Field hockey

Yarmouth’s field hockey team stretched its win streak to five games last Thursday, with a 2-1 (double-overtime) home win over Poland and its unbeaten streak to six games Saturday, settling for a weather-shortened 1-1 home tie with Cape Elizabeth, before falling to 5-2-1 Monday after a 5-0 home loss to powerhouse York. Against the Knights, Cat Jordan scored in regulation and Colleen Lynch produced the winner in OT. Against the Capers, Izzy Gilbert scored early and goalie Cassie Walsh made it stand up with 17 saves before she allowed the tying goal with just over six minutes left. Prior to the start of overtime, thunder and lightning forced a delay and when it didn’t cease, the game was called a tie.

“It’s a wicked bummer we couldn’t finish the game,” said Clippers coach Molly Saunders. “Honestly, it could have very well gone either way. We played a big defensive game, but our girls came to play as we knew this was going to be a tough fight. Our defense had some big stops in key moments of the game.”

Yarmouth is back in action Thursday at Poland.

“We are still a young team and we’re taking it game by game,” Saunders said. “We take a little bit of good and the bad from each game and try to improve it the best way we can.”

Freeport got in the win column last week, beating visiting Greely, 4-2, then fell to 1-4 with a 4-1 setback at Fryeburg Academy. In the victory, Kyla Havey and Sasha Nevins scored a pair of goals apiece and goalie Victoria Balla stopped 10 shots.

“It’s pretty exciting and I’m very proud of us,” Havey said. “We’re slowly putting it together. I’m one of the seniors on the team and I’m trying really hard to help the girls gain confidence and get excited. This win will help.”

“We’re young and we’re small and I knew at the end it was going to get a little tiring,” Falcons coach Marcia Wood said. “We’re young and new and we needed to have a win, so I can compare how it felt after this game.”

Against the Raiders, Lily Welsher scored the goal and Balla made 16 saves. The Falcons were at Poland Tuesday and host Lake Region Monday.

“We get better every game,” said Wood. “I want the girls to understand the game. I just want us to keep improving.”

Greely fell to 1-4 with a 4-2 loss at Freeport last week. Marisa Crowley and Leyla Rabbat scored goals and goalie Savanna Harvey made 10 saves, but a late rally fell short.

“I would have loved to take back the first seven minutes and I wish I could have taken a timeout,” lamented Greely coach Burgess LePage. “I think we underestimated a little bit how (Freeport would) come out. They rocked us at the beginning, then we found ourselves. They did everything we talked about doing and we weren’t ready for it, but I’m really proud of how we adjusted and came back from 3-0.”

After welcoming Fryeburg Academy Tuesday, the Rangers are at Cape Elizabeth Thursday, then welcome York Monday.

“We have a lot of talent and passion and it’s starting to come together,” LePage said. “We’re just recognizing that we have to make sure to go out there and have fun. This game was a testament to the girls’ mental tenacity. It was very exciting for me to see them push through.”

In Class A, Falmouth extended its win streak to five games after downing visiting Noble (4-0) and host Westbrook (5-0) last week, then fell to 5-2 Monday with a 3-0 loss at Gorham. Against the Knights, Charlize Kelly scored two goals and Allison Sweetser and Anna Turgeon added one apiece, while Chloe Bush had three assists. In the loss to the Rams, the Navigators couldn’t convert some good scoring opportunities.

“Gorham just moved the ball around the field well and used space and we didn’t and they were really patient on our defense as well and did a really nice job defensively in the circle against us,” said longtime Falmouth coach Robin Haley. “It was a good learning game for us. We gained a tremendous amount of experience in this game.”

The Navigators welcome South Portland Wednesday and go to Massabesic Friday.

In Class C, 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

Yarmouth’s volleyball team, the two-time reigning Class B champion, improved to 4-0 after straight-set wins last week at Gray-New Gloucester and South Portland. After going to Cheverus Tuesday, the Clippers have a home showdown against Class A powerhouse Scarborough Thursday (see pressherald.com/forecaster-sports/ for match story), then visit Greely Monday.

Greely was 3-3 after a five-set (19-25, 28-26, 25-17, 16-25, 12-15) home loss to Falmouth and a five-set victory over visiting Gray-New Gloucester last week and Monday’s 3-0 win at Lake Region. The Rangers visit Brunswick Wednesday and host Yarmouth Monday.

Two-time reigning Class A champion Falmouth began the week 4-1 after a five-set (25-19, 26-28, 17-25, 25-16, 15-12) win at Greely and a straight-set (25-8, 25-11, 25-17) victory at Portland last week. Against the Bulldogs, Emily Charest had 21 assists; Mackenzie Nichols six aces and five kills; Victoria Abbott six aces, six kills and five digs; and Amelia Graffam four kills. The Navigators were home with Biddeford Tuesday, play at Marshwood Thursday and visit Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

NYA lost in straight-sets (9-25, 23-25, 14-25) to visiting Brunswick last Tuesday, then improved to 1-3 Friday after a four-set (25-9, 24-26, 25-23, 25-6) home win over Lewiston. In the victory, Madilyn Onorato had 11 kills, Emma Rothrock nine aces and Maddy Vaillancourt eight assists and five aces. The Panthers go to Wells Thursday, host Jonesport-Beals Saturday and visit Lewiston Monday.

Cross country

Local cross country runners took part in the Southern Maine Classic Invitational cross country meet Saturday in Gorham.

In the boys’ competition, won by Cape Elizabeth, Freeport placed fourth, Greely fifth, Yarmouth eighth, Falmouth 10th, Maine Coast Waldorf 13th and NYA 23rd. Falmouth’s Logan Ross had the most individual success of Forecaster Country runners, placing fourth for scoring purposes, with a time of 16 minutes, 24.9 seconds. Louis Walker of MCW was 14th (17:21.5). The Falcons were paced by Will Spaulding (18th, 17:31.65). Mitchell Parent was the fastest Ranger (23rd, 17:47.54). The Panthers were led by James Tourigny (25th, 17:55.64). Aksel Yeo paced the Clippers with a 38th-place showing (18:19.05).

In the girls’ race, won by Bonny Eagle, Greely was fifth, MCW sixth, Falmouth seventh, Yarmouth eighth and Freeport 11th. Maeve Woodruff of MCW was the top local individual, placing eighth in 20:08.19, one spot ahead of Greely’s Annie Reynolds (20:09.3). The Navigators were led by Lila Findlay (23rd, 21:05.6). Jillian Wight paced the Falcons with a 29th-place showing (21:18.48). The Clippers were led by Hillary Connor (32nd, 21:30.22). NYA didn’t score as a team. Liv Urbanek ran as an individual and had the 120th-best time (24:50.1).

Golf

On the links, reigning Class A champion Greely dropped its most recent match, 9.5-3.5 to Gorham. The Rangers face Windham Thursday.

Defending Class B champion Freeport was 6-2 at press time and faced York Tuesday.

Falmouth was 4-0 entering Tuesday’s showdown with Scarborough.

Yarmouth beat Poland, 7-0, last week to improve to 3-0.

NYA has reported just one match this year, a loss. The Panthers faced St. Dom’s Thursday.

Press Herald staff writers Steve Craig and Mike Lowe contributed to this story.

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

Copy the Story Link