Northern: Playoffs underway in field hockey, soccer and volleyball

The postseason is heating up in volleyball, field hockey and boys’ and girls’ soccer and is about to begin in football and local squads are smack in the middle of all the excitement.

The drama is heating up and there’s a lot to keep track of.

Here’s an overview:

Boys’ soccer

Yarmouth’s Stevie Walsh fights for the ball during last week’s overtime loss at Waynflete in the regular season finale. Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald

Yarmouth’s boys’ soccer team has won the past two Class B state titles and six of the past seven, but bringing home another Gold Ball this season was no certainty when the postseason began.

Last week, the Clippers closed with a 3-2 overtime loss at three-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete to finish the regular season 10-2-2. Twice, Yarmouth erased deficits, on goals from Zach Kelly and Adam McLaughlin, but couldn’t get a result.

“We talked that we can’t lose our focus against good teams,” said longtime Clippers coach Mike Hagerty. “We made two mistakes inside the 6 and they scored. I feel like we could have won this in regulation with a little more focus. We had six shots inside the 12. If we buried one more, it wouldn’t have gone to overtime. We had opportunities. The kids responded well. I’m always proud of the boys’ effort.”

With the loss, Yarmouth dropped from the No. 2 spot to No. 3 and as a result, have to host No. 6 Freeport in the quarterfinals Wednesday (more on that in a moment).

The Falcons finished sixth in the region after a 3-0 loss at Cape Elizabeth last Tuesday. Freeport then dispatched No. 11 Morse in Saturday’s preliminary round, 3-1. The Falcons (7-4-4) got early goals from Alex Graver and Emmanuel Omeme and went on to victory and set up the quarterfinal round showdown at Yarmouth.

In both regular season games, the Falcons had second half leads over the Clippers, but Yarmouth rallied for a 2-1 win at Freeport Sept. 7, then rallied to forge a 1-1 draw Oct. 8 at home.

The Clippers have beaten the Falcons in seven of eight prior playoff meetings, with last year’s dramatic 2-1 overtime victory in the Class B South semifinals the most recent.

The Yarmouth-Freeport winner will advance to either go to No. 2 Lincoln Academy (11-1-2) or host No. 7 Fryeburg Academy (10-5) in the semifinals Saturday.

Greely earned the No. 8 seed in Class B South after closing the regular season with a 4-1 home victory over York. Sean-Marley Rwabira scored twice and Keegan Hale and Tate Nadeau each added one goal. Saturday, the Rangers survived No. 9 Medomak Valley in the preliminary round, 2-1, in overtime. Nadeau had the winning goal in OT after Tommy Bennert scored in regulation. The Rangers (8-6-1) go to top-ranked Cape Elizabeth (13-0-1) for the quarterfinals Wednesday. Greely lost both regular season meetings against the Capers, 4-0 in Cape Elizabeth Sept. 7 and 2-1 at home Oct. 8.

The Rangers are 7-8 all-time versus the Capers in the playoffs. The teams last met in the 2017 Class B South quarterfinals (a 2-1 Cape Elizabeth victory).

If Greely springs an upset, they’ll go to either No. 4 Erskine Academy (7-3-4) or No. 5 Gardiner (9-5-1) in Saturday’s semifinal round.

The Class B South Final is Tuesday of next week in Lewiston. The state game is Saturday, Nov. 5 in Hampden.

In Class A South, Falmouth wound up with the No. 9 seed and survived No. 8 Kennebunk in the preliminary round. After a scoreless 80 minutes of regulation and 30 more in overtime, the teams went to penalty kicks, where the Navigators survived, 3-2. Ben Pausman, Caden Barnard and Mason Quiet converted PKs and Caden Berry stopped three Rams’ attempts. Falmouth (8-5-2) next travels to top-ranked Scarborough (13-1) for the quarterfinals Wednesday. The Navigators lost the regular season meeting, 2-0, Sept. 26 on the road. The teams split two prior playoff meetings with Falmouth taking the most recent, 2-0, in the 2019 Class A South semifinals en route to the state title.

If the Navigators win again, they’ll go to either No. 4 Gorham (11-2-1) or No. 5 South Portland (11-4) for the semifinals Saturday.

The Class A South Final is Tuesday of next week in Sanford. The state final is Saturday, Nov. 5 at Deering High School in Portland.

Reigning Class D South champion North Yarmouth Academy finished the regular season 7-7 after a 1-0 loss at Traip Academy in last week’s regular season finale. The Panthers finished fifth in the region and go to No. 4 Richmond (10-3-1) Wednesday in the quarterfinals. The teams split during the regular season, with the Bobcats winning at home (1-0) Sept. 8 and NYA prevailing at home (3-0) Sept. 28.

If the Panthers advance, they’ll either visit No. 1 Greenville (13-1) or host eighth-ranked St. Dom’s (5-8-2) in Friday’s semifinals.

The Class D South Final is next Tuesday in Freeport. The state final is Saturday, Nov. 5 at Deering High School in Portland.

Girls’ soccer

On the girls’ side, NYA, the three-time reigning Class D state champion, is a heavy favorite to make it four in a row. Last Tuesday, the Panthers capped the first-ever 14-0 campaign in program history with a 5-0 home win over Traip Academy. Sarah Moore had two goals and Angel Huntsman, Emily Robbins and Michala Wallace also scored. NYA, riding a 25-game win streak and a 34-game unbeaten run, began its title quest Tuesday (after this edition went to print) when it hosted No. 8 St. Dom’s (2-10-2) in the Class D South quarterfinals. The Panthers twice beat the Saints this season, 5-1 Sept. 14 in Auburn and 6-0 at home Oct. 13. NYA was 2-0 all-time versus St. Dom’s in the playoffs, with a 7-1 victory in last year’s quarterfinals the most recent.

If, as expected, the Panthers advance to Friday’s semifinal round, they will host either fourth-ranked Rangeley (8-6) or fifth-seeded Temple Academy (7-5-2).

The Class D South Final is next Tuesday in Freeport. The state final is Saturday, Nov. 5 at Deering High School in Portland.

In Class B South, second-seeded Yarmouth hosted No. 10 Freeport in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

The Falcons closed the regular season by taking undefeated, three-time reigning Cape Elizabeth to double-overtime before losing, 2-1. Emily Olsen scored the goal. Saturday, Freeport outlasted No. 7 Leavitt in double-overtime, 2-1, to improve to 7-7-1 and advance. Pearl Peterson played the hero with the OT goal.

The Clippers finished the regular season 11-3 after last Tuesday’s 3-0 home win over Wells. Ava Feeley scored all three goals.

Yarmouth twice beat Freeport during the regular season, 3-0 at home Sept. 6 and 2-0 at the Falcons Oct. 7. The Clippers were 3-1 all-time versus the Falcons in the playoffs, with a 1-0 victory in last year’s quarterfinals the most recent.

The Yarmouth-Freeport winner will face either No. 3 Lincoln Academy (8-5-1) or No. 11 Gray-New Gloucester (6-7-2) in Saturday’s semifinal round.

Greely ended up in the four spot in Class B South after closing the regular season with a 1-1 draw at York last Wednesday. Abby Lennox scored the Rangers’ goal, as they finished the regular season 8-4-2.

Greely and York met up again in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round, at Cumberland. The teams tied twice this fall (0-0 on the Rangers’ pitch in the other meeting) and something will have to give in the squads’ fifth all-time playoff encounter (Greely has won three of the past four, but the Wildcats won the most recent meeting, 4-1, in the 2018 Class B South semifinals).

If the Rangers advance, they’ll go to No. 1 Cape Elizabeth (14-0) or host No. 9 Wells (8-7) in the semifinals Saturday.

The Class B South Final is Tuesday of next week in Lewiston. The state game is Saturday, Nov. 5 in Hampden.

In Class A South, Falmouth earned the No. 7 seed after completing an 8-6 regular season with a 6-0 home loss to reigning state champion Windham in last Tuesday’s finale. In Friday’s preliminary round, the Navigators eliminated No. 10 Bonny Eagle, 3-0, behind goals from Abbie Ford, Gwenyth Long and Mackenzie VerLee. Falmouth went to No. 2 Gorham (14-0) for the quarterfinals Tuesday. The Rams won the regular season meeting, 4-1, Sept. 20 in Gorham. The Navigators were 2-3 all-time versus the Rams in the playoffs, with a loss in penalty kicks (4-3) after 110 scoreless minutes in last year’s semifinals the most recent result.

The Class A South Final is Tuesday of next week in Sanford. The state final is Saturday, Nov. 5 at Deering.

Field hockey

Lizalyn Boudreau and her Freeport field hockey teammates hope to make a deep playoff run. Brianna Soukup / Portland Press Herald

Freeport’s field hockey team, rife with freshmen, had an excellent regular season, going 10-3-1, good for the No. 3 seed in Class B South. Tuesday afternoon, the Falcons hosted No. 6 Lake Region (5-8-1) in the quarterfinals. Freeport swept the Lakers this fall, winning at home (4-1) Sept. 9 and in Naples (1-0) Sept. 28. Lake Region won the lone prior playoff encounter, 4-0, in the 2017 Class B South quarterfinals.

If victorious, the Falcons will either go to No. 2 Cape Elizabeth (12-2) or host No. 7 Fryeburg Academy (5-9) in Saturday’s semifinals.

Yarmouth finished 8-6 after a 5-1 victory over Greely in the regular season finale last Tuesday. Sophie Smith scored all five goals. The Clippers wound up fifth in Class B South and went to No. 4 Leavitt, the reigning state champion (11-3) in the quarterfinals Tuesday. The teams didn’t play this fall and had no playoff history.

If Yarmouth was able to spring the upset, it will go to top-ranked York (13-1) or host No. 9 Morse (4-11) in the semifinals Saturday.

Greely wound up 2-10-2 after closing with a 5-1 loss to Yarmouth. The Rangers finished 10th in Class B South, but only nine teams made the playoffs.

In Class A South, Falmouth earned the No. 8 seed after a 7-6-1 campaign. Last Friday, the Navigators hosted No. 9 Marshwood and the contest needed 60 minutes of regulation, 16 more of overtime and one round of penalty corners before Falmouth prevailed, 2-1. Anna Turgeon scored in the fourth quarter to keep the Navigators alive, then Allison Sweeter delivered the winning goal. Falmouth goes to top-ranked, defending state champion Cheverus (14-0) for the quarterfinals Wednesday. On Sept.13, the visiting Stags won the regular season meeting, 9-0. Cheverus also took the lone prior playoff meeting, 7-0, in last year’s semifinals.

If the Navigators are able to spring an upset, they’ll go to No. 4 Noble (10-4) or No. 5 Thornton Academy (9-5) in Saturday’s semifinals.

Looking ahead, the Class A South and Class B South Finals a Wednesday of next week in Biddeford. The Class A and Class B state games are Saturday, Nov. 5, at Messalonskee High School in Oakland.

Volleyball

Yarmouth’s volleyball team, the three-time reigning Class B state champion, is the top seed in Class B yet again and was two wins from another championship at press time. The Clippers improved to 14-1 after Saturday’s straight-set (25-13, 25-15, 25-10) home victory over No. 8 Cony. Dorcas Bolese and Annie Vinnakota each had 12 kills. Madi Beaudoin added five aces. Wednesday, Yarmouth welcomes No. 4 York (12-3) in the state semifinals. The Clippers twice beat the Wildcats this year by 3-0 scores. Yarmouth swept York in the lone prior playoff meeting, in the 2019 state semifinals.

If Yarmouth gets through the state match, it will face either No. 2 Gardiner (15-0) or No. 6 Mt. Desert Island (12-3) Friday at 8:30 p.m., at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

Greely, ranked ninth in Class B, was ousted by eighth-seeded Cony in four-games in the preliminary round to end up 9-6.

In Class A, Falmouth, ranked sixth, dropped a five-set home match to No. 11 Hampden Academy in last week’s preliminary round to finish 6-9. The Navigators lost the first two sets, but rallied to win the third and fourth before falling in the decisive game.

In Class C, NYA, the No. 6 seed, was swept out by No. 3 Calais in the quarterfinals to wind up 4-11.

Football

Falmouth’s Lucas Dilworth makes a touchdown catch during an overtime loss at Cony Friday. Michael G. Seamans / Kennebec Journal

On the gridiron, Yarmouth’s quest for a perfect regular season was dashed by Mt. Ararat in the finale Friday, 38-14. The Clippers wound up 7-1 and will be the No. 2 seed in the eight-man large school South division. Michael McGonagle scored a rushing touchdown and Sam Bradford hit Kai Sullivan for the other score. Friday, Yarmouth will host No. 3 Spruce Mountain (5-2) in the regional semifinals. The teams didn’t meet this year. Last year, the Clippers lost to the Phoenix, 52-12, in the quarterfinals.

Greely’s return to stand-alone varsity play this fall ended at 0-7 after Friday’s 38-22 loss at Morse.

In Class B North, Falmouth ended the regular season 5-3 after a hard-fought 35-28 overtime loss at Cony last Friday. The Rams took an early 7-0 lead, but Navigators quarterback Finn Caxton-Smith threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Dilworth on Falmouth’s first drive cut the deficit to 7-6. The Navigators took a 14-7 lead in the second period on Caxton-Smith’s 8-yard keeper, following by his 2-point conversion pass to Miles Gay. Cony knotted the score at 14 and the teams traded TDs in the third, as the Navigators scored on another Caxton-Smith QB keeper, this one from 1-yard out. When Caxton-Smith scored on an 11-yard run with 2:06 left, the lead was 28-20, but the Rams rallied to force overtime, then scored on their possession before stopping Falmouth to end the game.

Caxton-Smith passed for 127 yards and scored three touchdowns on 25 rushes and completed 5-of-10 passes for 102 yards and a score. Indi Bachman gained 122 yards on 21 carries.

“Clearly we thought when we scored late in the game that it was over,” Falmouth coach John Fitzsimmons said. “That (tying touchdown) was crushing. I think they know we played hard football too, so it was a great game. (Caxton-Smith and Backman) are both dangerous guys. Indi’s only a sophomore, so we’ve got him for two more years and more importantly, we’ve got him for playoffs. At 6-3, 305, (Will) Gale is just tenacious on both sides of the ball. He’s special. I think he proved that tonight.”

The Navigators finished fourth in the region and host No. 5 Gardiner (4-4) in Friday’s quarterfinals. The teams didn’t meet this year and have no playoff history.

In Class D, Freeport lost a key home showdown against reigning champion Foxcroft Academy, 24-10, last Friday to fall to 4-3. After falling behind early, the Falcons answered with an 80-yard drive that was finished off when quarterback Aidan Heath found Max Peters for a 6-yard score. The Ponies then took a 10-7 advantage to halftime went up by 10 before Alex Graver kicked a 26-yard field goal for Freeport’s final score. Foxcroft Academy put it away with a late touchdown. Freeport ran for 116 yards on 24 carries and got 112 passing yards from Heath, but its defense couldn’t get off the field when it had to late.

“It’s one of those things where you’re going to look back and it’s going to be situational football that made the difference,” Falcons coach Paul St. Pierre said. “The fact that we put them in third down positions is good, but we’ve got to get those stops.”

Freeport closes the regular season Friday at 4-3 John Bapst. The Falcons were third in the Class D Crabtree Points standings at press time.

Press Herald staff writer Drew Bonifant and Kennebec Journal staff writer David Bailey contributed to this story.