The calendar changes bring a new level of excitement to fall sports campaigns.
We are now in the second half of the regular season schedule, and every remaining game is filled with important pieces.
The postseason isn’t that far away and the fun is just beginning for teams from Cape Elizabeth and South Portland.
Here’s an overview:
football
The South Portland soccer team is off to its best start in 23 seasons, improving to 4-0 with a 41-20 home win over Windham last Friday.
After a scoreless first period, the Red Riots won the second period on Conor Gerrard’s 1-yard touchdown run and stayed in the second period. Quarterback Easton Healy added a 4-yard TD scamper, and with the Eagles out, Healy hit Alex Horton with a 54-yard scoring strike to make it 20-7 at halftime. Healy scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter and had another TD (7 yards) early in the fourth for a 34-7 lead. After Windham responded with a score, Chris Salamone broke it with a 19-yard touchdown run, giving the Eagles their final TD.
South Portland will have a big test on Friday when they will face off against the dangerous Bonnie Eagles (see website for game story). The Red Riots and Scots (2-2 this fall) didn’t play each other a year ago. The teams haven’t played since 2018, and South Portland hasn’t beaten the Bonny Eagles since 2015.
Meanwhile, Cape Elizabeth defeated Freeport 21-3 last Saturday to even their record at 2-2.
The Capers head to 1-3 York on Saturday afternoon. Cape Elizabeth defeated the Wildcats twice last year, winning 30-27 at home in the regular season and 41-6 in the Class C South quarterfinals.
boys soccer
The Cape Elizabeth boys soccer team improved to 7-1-1 after a 4-1 home win over York last week and a 4-0 win over Gray New Gloucester on Tuesday. Harry Converse, Luis Gonzalez, Tully Hader and Will Vain all scored against the Wildcats. In the win over the Patriots, Converse scored three points and Kayden Johnson had another.
The Capers host Brunswick on Saturday and have a big home test against Greeley next Wednesday.
South Portland fell to 3-4 against Cheverus on Wednesday after losing 1-0 at home to Falmouth last week and posting a 2-1 overtime win over Gorham. The Red Riots conceded a goal early in the second half and were unable to respond.
“It was good to get the chance early, but we have to finish the game,” South Portland coach Brian Hoy said. “We didn’t have our best performance in the second half. It can be frustrating at times. We had a good shot at the end, but it deflected inside the box. Other than that, we didn’t feel much pressure in the second half.”
Ben Morin scored both goals in the victory, with the winners winning on penalties.
The Red Riots host Deering on Friday before traveling to Sanford next Wednesday.
“I keep telling my players it doesn’t really matter where they play as long as they play,” Hoy said. “We’ve got to win some road games, but that’s not a problem for us.”
women’s soccer
On the girls side, Cape Elizabeth improved to 7-0-1 with a 2-1 home win over Gray New Gloucester on Tuesday. Addie Miller and Haley Gorman each scored one goal.
The Capers visit Class A North power Brunswick on Saturday and have a key showdown next week at Greeley Wednesday.
South Portland is now 2-5-1 after a 2-1 loss at Falmouth, a 5-0 home win against Masabesic, and a 2-0 upset at Deering. Marina Bassett scored the only goal against the Navigators. Maci Raucher scored two points in the win, and Myra Costa, Maia Lawrence and Charlie Savage each added one point.
The Red Riots host the Bonnie Eagles on Thursday and travel to Thornton Academy next Tuesday.
field hockey
The South Portland/Westbrook cooperative field hockey team entered Wednesday’s showdown in Scarborough at 3-3-1. The team had just won 6-1 at home against Bonnie Eagle and suffered a 4-1 loss to Sanford. Jane Phillips scored three goals, Lily Dorrington scored two and Mackenzie Hall also rocked the cage. Vivian Lollar made 22 saves in the loss to the Spartans. After traveling to play Bonnie Eagle on Saturday, South Portland/Westbrook returns home next Tuesday to take on Noble.
Cape Elizabeth is now 1-6 after losing 1-0 in overtime against Greeley on Monday and winning 1-0 in overtime against Poland on Tuesday. Against the Rangers, the Capers came as close to winning as they have all season, but they fell just short despite goaltender Lulu Stecklein making six saves.
โHonestly, this was our best game,โ Cape Elizabeth first-year coach Michelle Lemelin said. โWe really connected and had a lot of possession and we really felt like we could win and then we just slipped through.
โI think weโve made a lot of progress from the start of preseason to now, we just havenโt gotten to the โWโ yet. I just need more experience and time in the field.โ
Against the Knights, Clio Cook-Sharp scored in the first three minutes of OT and Stecklein made five saves to help the Capers break through.
โWe really brought our game and connected really well today,โ Lemelin said. โIt was a fun game to watch and it was a very close game. I think our captains played positively and constructively between quarters to lead the team to victory today. We didnโt have much experience with overtime. But they knew from the last game that this was a valuable time and every play was important. I’m very proud of them.”
Cape Elizabeth plays at Leavitt on Friday, hosts Yarmouth on Monday and visits Fryeburg Academy the following Wednesday.
“We’re trying to adjust and get better,” Lemelin said. “It’s gone by so fast. There’s only a few weeks left, but there’s still a lot of work to do. We want to finish on a strong note and find a way to make the playoffs. This week is over. We have two games and we expect to win.โ
volleyball
The Cape Elizabeth volleyball team improved to 5-2 after a 3-0 win against Gray-New Gloucester on Tuesday.
The Capers will stay in Wells on Thursday before heading to Gardiner next Tuesday.
South Portland won four sets at Brunswick and lost four sets at Marshwood, falling to 3-5.
The Red Riots host Deering on Thursday and welcome Bonnie Eagle next Tuesday.
cross country
South Portland’s cross country team joined Noble’s Kennebunk and Scarborough last week. The Red Riots men’s team finished second behind Red Storm, with Evan Small setting the individual pace for fifth place with a time of 17 minutes, 41.12 seconds. The South Portland girls finished third (Scarborough won), with Julia Tompkins (21:30.15) second fastest individually.
Cape Elizabeth joins Fryeburg Academy and St. Dom’s in the Lake Region. The Capers girls team finished first, with Hannah Frothingham taking first place individually (20:58). Cape Elizabeth’s boys team finished second behind the Lakers and was led by Liam Nudd (third place, 6 p.m.).
golf
At the time of writing, the golf season was coming to an end.
South Portland entered Thursday’s final game against Falmouth with a 2-7 record. The Red Riots lost to Scarborough (9-4) and Cheverus (12-1) earlier this week. Against the Red Storm, Corbin Voisine shot a team-best nine-hole round of 37. Evan Campbell hit 38 in the loss to the Stags. The Southwest Maine Activities Association state qualifiers will be held next week.
Cape Elizabeth finished eighth in the Western Maine Conference qualifiers on Tuesday and did not qualify for the state tournament.
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