(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Falmouth volleyball match story, with photos, see theforecaster.net) 

While the fall postseason began Saturday with golf’s state meet (see story), the regular season is coming to a rapid close in the other sports and local teams are in the thick of the action.

Here’s a glimpse of the week that was and what’s on tap:

Football

Cape Elizabeth’s football team stayed undefeated, barely, last weekend, while Scarborough had little trouble with South Portland.

The Capers didn’t score a point on offense, but still managed to eke out a 7-0 win at this year’s feel-good story, Gray-New Gloucester. Cape Elizabeth rode a huge goal line stand and a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown from Ben Ekedahl in the fourth quarter to survive. The Capers (6-0 and first in the Class C South Crabtree Points standings) go to No. 2 Yarmouth (6-0) for a pivotal showdown Friday night (see theforecaster.net for game story). Last year, Cape Elizabeth won a thrilling regular season encounter, 31-28, but the Clippers earned revenge with a 14-12 win at the Capers in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

Scarborough improved to 4-2 and handed 2-4 South Portland its fourth successive setback with a decisive victory Friday. The Red Storm went on top, 7-0, on quarterback Jack Hughes’ scoring run in the first quarter. After Nick Mezzanotte tied the score for the Red Riots with a long TD run, Hughes twice hit Connor Kelly with touchdown passes for a 19-7 lead at the break. Kelly returned a punt for a score and Hughes and Kelly hooked up again to make it 33-7 after three quarters and a touchdown run from Owen Garrard in the fourth period brought the curtain down on Scarborough’s 40-7 victory.

The Red Storm (second to defending state champion Thornton Academy in Class A South) go to 4-2 Cheverus Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story). The teams didn’t meet last fall.

The Red Riots (sixth in Class A South) have the daunting task of hosting 5-1 Thornton Academy Friday night. South Portland lost, 47-6, at the Golden Trojans last year.

Boys’ soccer

Scarborough’s boys’ soccer team extended its three-year regular season league unbeaten streak to 38 with recent victories over visiting Thornton Academy (2-0), host Noble (4-0) and host Marshwood (7-1). In the win over the Golden Trojans, Jacob McGarvey and Jake Kacer had the goals. Matt Caron, Marc Guerrette, Josh Morrissey and Brandon Wasser scored against the Knights. In the win over the Hawks, Garrett King scored twice, while Caron, Sam Jacob, Justin Perry, Spencer Pettingill and Noah Stracqualursi also tickled the twine. The Red Storm (10-0-2 and first in the Class A South Heal Points standings) hosted Massabesic Thursday and close the regular season at Windham Tuesday.

South Portland settled for ties at Cheverus (0-0) and at home against Marshwood (3-3) before improving to 6-3-4 and sixth in Class A South with a 6-0 win at Massabesic Tuesday. Kervens Anthoine, Liam Coyne and Alecks Kaurin had the goals against the Hawks. In the win, Charlie Cronin had three goals, while Coyne, Ahmed Suja and Khalid Suja also scored. The Red Riots close the regular season at home versus Noble Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth suffered a 5-0 loss at Greely Saturday, then snapped a two-game skid and even its record at 6-6 Tuesday with a dramatic 3-2 overtime win at Fryeburg Academy. R.J. Sarka twice tied the score, then Nicolai Sabatini won it in OT. The Capers (sixth in Class B South) go to York Saturday and close at home against Kennebunk Tuesday.

In Class D South, Greater Portland Christian School finished the regular year 8-5-1 after a 4-2 win at Islesboro, a a 2-0 home loss to Buckfield and 4-2 home loss to Searsport. The Lions were ranked fourth at press time and hope to host at least one playoff game.

The boys’ soccer postseason begins Oct. 23-24 with the preliminary round on the fields of the higher seeds.

Girls’ soccer

Scarborough’s girls’ soccer team took a nine-game win streak into Wednesday’s home showdown versus Marshwood (see theforecaster.net for game story). Last week, the Red Storm improved to 10-0-1 with wins over visiting Westbrook (3-0) and at Thornton Academy (1-0). Lauren Sabatino had two goals and Jillian Ware added one against the Blue Blazes. Ware had the lone goal in the win at the Golden Trojans. Scarborough (first in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) visits Massabesic Friday and closes at home Wednesday with a huge showdown versus two-time defending Class A champion Windham.

South Portland lost at Thornton Academy (3-0) and at home to Cheverus (1-0) last week to fall to 4-7 and 13th in Class A South (where only 12 teams make the playoffs). The Red Riots were home with Massabesic Wednesday, visit Windham Saturday and close at Noble Tuesday.

Cape Elizabeth, the two time defending regional champion, dropped its second in a row, 4-1, at home to Greely, Friday, then got back on track Tuesday with a 3-0 home win over Fryeburg Academy to improve to 7-4. Against the Rangers, Montana Braxton had the goal. Sierra Aceto, Mariah Deschino and Tori McGraw scored in the win over the Raiders. The Capers (third behind Greely and York in Class B South) hosted Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, visit York Saturday and close at Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.

In Class D South, GPCS fell to 2-11 and eighth (only seven teams make the playoffs) after a 5-3 home loss to Highview Christian, a 1-0 home loss to Buckfield and a 9-1 home loss to Searsport. The Lions close at Valley Friday.

The girls’ soccer postseason begins Oct. 23-24 with the preliminary round on the fields of the higher seeds.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s defending Class A champion field hockey team has lost twice in a regular season for the first time since 2006. Last week, the Red Storm dropped a 2-0 decision at Sanford. Saturday, Scarborough enjoyed a 1-0 win at Biddeford on Lily Nygren’s goal. The Red Storm downed visiting Noble, 5-0, Tuesday to finish the regular season 12-2. Nygren, Rachel Paradis, Sydney Rusak, Catherine Taylor and Lauren Topchik had the goals. Scarborough (second in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) is awaiting its playoff seeding (the Red Storm were last seeded anything but first in 2008) and will have at least one, likely two postseason games as it seeks its fourth successive regional championship.

South Portland was 3-10 entering Wednesday’s finale at Massabesic. Last week, the Red Riots enjoyed a 6-1 win at Portland, then lost to visiting Sanford, 5-0. Bonge Lako and Amelia Papi both scored twice in the victory, while Kelby Doyle and Maddie Hasson also rattled the cage. The Red Riots were ranked 14th in Class A South at press time, but only 11 teams qualify for the playoffs.

Cape Elizabeth was 0-13 and 13th in Class B South (10 teams qualify) heading into Wednesday’s finale at Falmouth. The Capers lost, 3-0, at North Yarmouth Academy in their lone game last week.

The playoffs begin this weekend with the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Those games will be played on the fields of the higher seeds.

Volleyball 

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class A champion volleyball team has shot to the top of the Class A standings after extending its win streak to 10 after a 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-19) win at Kennebunk and a 3-0 (25-23, 25-10, 26-24) home victory over Falmouth Tuesday. Against the Yachtsmen, Maggie Dadmun had a match to remember, producing 32 assists and 19 service points. Monika Scheindel had 12 kills, Tess Haller nine kills and five blocks and Maddie Bowe nine kills and two blocks.

“I just focused on getting it in and not anything fancy,” Dadmun said. “That helped us as a team.” 

“Something clicked for me and Maggie,” Scheindel said. “She set the ball and I got it done. It was great.”

“(Falmouth) played really hard,” Haller said. “It was a tough match all around. To finish in three sets is a statement that we deserve to be number one right now.”

The 10-2 Capers hosted Biddeford Thursday and close the regular season at Yarmouth Saturday (see theforecaster.net for match story).

“I think we’re number one and I think we deserve to be number one, but with that said, I think Falmouth, Scarborough, Greely, anybody in that top five, can beat us,” Cape Elizabeth coach Sarah Boeckel said. “I love that anybody can beat anybody. We need to tweak our serve receive a little bit and clean up our blocking. Otherwise, I’m feeling really good. I think the biggest thing is we don’t panic. If you walked in and didn’t look at the score, you wouldn’t know if we’re winning or losing and I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Scarborough saw its losing streak hit three with a 3-0 (27-29, 23-25, 18-25) loss to Biddeford last Thursday, then improved to 8-4 Tuesday with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-11) home win over Kennebunk Tuesday. The Red Storm (fifth in Class A) went to Falmouth Thursday and close at Gorham Saturday.

South Portland fell to 4-7 and 14th in Class A (only 12 teams make the playoffs) after a hard-fought five set (25-12, 25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 12-25) loss to visiting Cony and a three set (20-25, 17-25, 14-25) home loss to Thornton Academy. The Red Riots were home with Wells Wednesday and went to Cheverus Thursday before closing the season Saturday at Bonny Eagle. 

The playoffs begin with the quarterfinals Saturday, Oct. 24.

Cross country

Cape Elizabeth’s cross country team wrapped up its regular season by hosting Falmouth, Gray-New Gloucester, Maine Coast Waldorf School and Poland. The Capers won the girls’ meet, as Liv Palma (19 minutes, 26 seconds) and Emma Shedd (19:37) finished first and second individually. In the boys’ meet, Cape Elizabeth was second behind Falmouth, as Mac Huffard came in seventh (17:01).

In the SMAA, Scarborough and South Portland joined McAuley at Noble last week. The Red Storm won the boys’ meet with the Red Riots second. Andrew Sholl (17:19.37), Conner Doherty (17:21.57) and Colin Tadiff (17:27.16) went 1-2-3 for Scarborough. South Portland’s top runner was Xander Keiter (fourth, 18:08.66). In the girls’ competition, the Red Riots were first and the Red Storm second. South Portland had the top two individuals, Serena Mckenzie (21:08.48) and Casey Loring (21:43.75). Samantha Saraceno (third, 21:48.76) led Scarborough.

This weekend, Cape Elizabeth will take part in the Western Maine Conference championship meet at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. The SMAA regular season wraps up as Scarborough joins Bonny Eagle and Windham at Gorham and South Portland runs with Biddeford and Westbrook at Thornton Academy.

The regional championship meet is Oct. 24. The state meet is Oct. 31. Both will be held at Twin Brook in Cumberland.

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

Sidebar Elements

South Portland senior Drew Bradbury plays the ball in an unorthodox manner during last week’s 0-0 tie at Cheverus.

Cape Elizabeth’s Maggie Dadmun sets the ball for a teammate during the Capers’ 3-0 home win over Falmouth Tuesday. Dadmun had 32 assists and a whopping 19 service points to help spark the win.