Football

Aug. 31 Falmouth 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 @ Fryeburg Academy 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 @ Wells 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 Mountain Valley 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 @ Spruce Mountain 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 Greely 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 York 7 p.m.

Oct. 19 @ Lake Region 7 p.m.

Coach: Jim Hersom

Last year’s record: 1-8

Key players: Josh Greenleaf (Sr.-RB/DB), Colin Skillings (Sr.-FB/LB), Aaron Chapman (Sr.-TE/LB), Pat Dumas (Sr.-OL/DL), Cam Quintal (Sr.- C/NG), Tyler Hicks (Jr.-G/LB)

Key games: Sept. 21 vs. Mountain Valley, Oct. 12 vs. York, Oct. 19 at Lake Region

Season outlook: First-year coach Hersom comes to the Patriots from Leavitt having last been a head coach at Edward Little in 2005, and the results have been immediate. After winning just one game in the past two seasons, GNG matched that total with a 22-14 win last Friday against Falmouth, a playoff team last season. Hersom has a small but strong senior class to build around led by Greenleaf, who rushed for all three of the Patriots’ touchdowns against Falmouth and with Skillings should provide a formidable one-two punch on the ground. The pair should have good blocking up front from a line led by the experienced trio of Dumas, Quintal and Hicks. Chapman will be the main threat through the air and will be a leader on defense, chipping in two key interceptions against Falmouth. While an upcoming trip to Welles and a home game with Mountain Valley could bring the Patriots down off the high of the victory against the Yachtsmen, a trip to Fryeburg this Friday is another winnable game and could see GNG get of to its best start in over a decade. Either way, this squad should be a much-improved team this season under Hersom as long as they can keep their few experienced players healthy.

Boys Soccer

Sept. 1 @ Poland 11 a.m.

Sept. 4 York 6 p.m.

Sept. 6 @ Fryeburg Academy 4 p.m.

Sept. 11 Poland 6 p.m.

Sept. 13 Freeport 6 p.m.

Sept. 20 @ Falmouth 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 Waynflete 3 p.m.

Sept. 24 @ Greely 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 @ Wells 6 p.m.

Sept. 28 @ Lake Region 6 p.m.

Oct. 4 Yarmouth 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 NYA 6 p.m.

Oct. 13 Cape Elizabeth 1 p.m.

Oct. 15 @ Freeport 3:30 p.m.

Girls Soccer

Sept. 4 @ York 6 p.m.

Sept. 7 Fryeburg Academy 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 @ Wells 6 p.m.

Sept. 13 @ Freeport 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 Falmouth 1 p.m.

Sept. 20 @ Waynflete 4 p.m.

Sept. 22 Poland 1 p.m.

Sept. 24 Greely 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 Old Orchard Beach 6 p.m.

Sept. 28 Lake Region 6 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Poland 6 p.m.

Oct. 6 @Yarmouth 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 Sacopee Valley 6 p.m.

Oct. 13 @ Cape Elizabeth 6:45 p.m.

Coach: Kiaran McCormack

Last year’s record: 4-9-1, didn’t make playoffs

Key players: Haylee Cote (Sr.-midfield), Taylor Darnell (Sr.-forward), Amanda Giggey (Sr.-defense), Lindsay Nunley (Sr.-defense), Michele Dehetre (Sr.-midfield), Kristen Labreque (Sr.-forward), Robin Pelkey (Sr.-defense), Karen Sutherland (Sr.-defense), Sammie Wilkins (Sr.-goalkeeper), Julia Martell (Jr.-forward), Julia Ritter (Jr.-defense), Anna Knapp (Jr.-defense)

Key games: Sept. 15 vs. Falmouth, Sept. 28 vs. Lake Region, Oct. 2 at Poland

Season outlook: The Patriots played in plenty of close games last season where the result ended-up going against them and will hope to reverse those scores and surprise some of the other teams in their conference this fall. Built around a deep group of seniors GNG will look to play attractive technical and tactical soccer improve on last year’s record with a return to the playoffs. Giggey and Wilkins are returning captains who will be asked to man the fort in the back and provide solid defense. Cote is the playmaker in the midfield and will be looked upon to provide a creative spark for the offense, setting up goals for the strike pair of Darnell and Martell. The Patriots got off to a rough start with another close 1-0 loss at the hands of traditional powers York Tuesday, with Wilkins making 13 saves in the defeat. Next up is Fryeburg Academy in the home opener Friday.

Boys and Girls ?Cross Country

Sept. 7 Home 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 @ Yarmouth 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Home 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 @ Poland 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 @ Lake Region 3:30 p.m.

Field Hockey

Aug. 29 Cape Elizabeth 4 p.m.

Aug. 31 Yarmouth 4 p.m.

Sept. 4 @ Lake Region 4 p.m.

Sept. 6 Poland 4 p.m.

Sept. 10 @ Greely 4 p.m.

Sept. 14 @ Freeport 4 p.m.

Sept. 18 Waynflete 4 p.m.

Sept. 20 @ Wells 6 p.m.

Sept. 22 Falmouth 3 p.m.

Sept. 24 @ Yarmouth 4 p.m.

Sept. 28 @ Old Orchard Beach 4 p.m.

Oct. 2 Lake Region 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 Fryeburg Academy 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 @ York 4 p.m.

Golf

Sept. 4 @ Lake Region 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 @ Old Orchard Beach 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 6 @ Fryeburg Academy 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 11 @ Wells 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 Poland 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 NYA & Lake Region 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 York 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 @ Fryeburg Academy 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 Sacopee Valley 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 @ Poland 3:30 p.m.