FOOTBALL

Coach: Skip Capone (first year)

2023 record: 6-3 (Lost, 34-15, to Fryeburg Academy in Class C South semifinals)

Top returning players: Liam Backman (Senior), Matt Baker (Senior), Jack Fenton (Senior), Devin Kelly (Senior), Brady Mitchell (Senior), Rocco Deschambault (Junior), Isaac Horler (Junior), Evan Metivier (Junior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 6 @ Falmouth, Sept. 28 BIDDEFORD, Oct. 5 GORHAM, Oct. 11 @ Kennebunk, Oct. 18 @ Marshwood, Oct. 25 DEERING

Coach’s comment: “So far, so good. I have a great staff, an administration that wants us to be successful and a good bunch of kids. Coaches (Mike) Vance and (John) Wolfgram left the program in great shape. We have a good sized freshman class. The biggest one in awhile. The effort is outstanding. We’re moving everyone around and getting the most out of everybody. I’m very happy with our defense so far and we’re running the ball well. We’ve got good depth. We’re about ‘We, Not Me,’ so everyone’s role is important. Class B is a good step up for us. We’ll have to come to play every night. We’ll be competitive.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: After a solid campaign a year ago, Cheverus begins a new era with an accomplished group of coaches, playing at the Class B level this fall with an eye to returning to Class A at some point down the road. After a successful tenure as coach, Mike Vance retired in the offseason and he’s been replaced by Capone, who played in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and at Plymouth State University before embarking on a four decade coaching career, with most of his time at Bates College and Lewiston High School. Capone most recently served as an assistant to Jason McLeod at Portland High for three years and McLeod has joined him at Cheverus as the offensive coordinator (longtime Portland assistant and 1982 Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Mike Rutherford is running the defense). The coaches are eager to meet the challenges head-on.

The Stags lost some key contributors, including standout running Joe Osei and quarterback Gio St. Onge, to graduation, but several top players return. The line will be solid behind veterans Backman, Deschambault, Horler and Metivier. Senior Colby Ross will step in at quarterback. Baker is the lead running back and will be a big part of the offense. Look for Cheverus to be more of a throwing team than it has been in the past. Fenton, Kelly and Mitchell will all be targeted. The Stags should find their way into the end zone on a regular basis and will be a creative offense which will make life miserable for the opposition.

Defensively, Cheverus is poised to be formidable as well. Backman, Deschambault and Metivier anchor the line. Baker and Kelly are top linebackers. In the secondary, keep an eye on Fenton, Horler, Mitchell and Ross. The Stags won’t cede ground, or points, easily.

Cheverus will be one of the most compelling stories of the football season. How will a group of Portland guys adjust to wearing the purple and gold? Can Osei’s production be replaced? How quickly will Ross get up to speed under center? The Stags won’t have many easy games and they’re eager to measure themselves against the best of Class B. The guess here is that by season’s end, they’ll be one of the top teams in the region and could embark on a deep playoff run. Buckle up. This will be quite a show to watch.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Coach: Ben Schulz (second year)

2023 record: 5-9 (no playoffs)

Top returning players: Henry Huntley (Senior), Emil Strock (Senior), Alexander Royle (Junior), Ange-Michel Liwanga (Sophomore), Griffin MacLeod (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 5 FALMOUTH, Sept. 11 @ Deering, Sept. 18 GORHAM, Oct. 2 SOUTH PORTLAND, Oct. 9 PORTLAND, Oct. 15 WINDHAM, Oct. 19 @ Scarborough

Coach’s comment: “We are extremely young and will lean heavily on kids that are sophomores and freshman. My hope is that we can grow up quick and be competitive in the always-tough SMAA.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus fell just short of the playoffs last fall, but the Stags got better as the year went on and Schulz hopes that this team will build on that growth.

Liwanga scored 13 goals as a freshman and was an honorable mention league all-star. He’ll be the team’s top scoring threat and the opposition’s biggest nightmare. Huntley and freshman Liam Siana will look to consistently put the ball in the net from their midfield spots. Freshman Felix Trinward is another newcomer to watch in the midfield. Strock anchors the defense in front of MacLeod, who returns in goal.

The Stags face some tough competition out of the gate and will need some time to hit their stride, but by season’s end, don’t be surprised if they’re in contention and this time, get to play an extra game or two.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Coach: Craig Roberts (12th year, 109-52-10 overall record)

2023 record: 11-4-2 (Lost, 2-0, to eventual champion Scarborough in Class A South semifinals)

Top returning players: Finley Brown (Senior), Jill Foley (Senior), Sophia Monfa (Senior), Evelyn Rush (Senior), Annie Vigue (Senior), Alaina Holmes (Junior), Kate Prestes (Junior), Rachel LaSalle (Junior), Addie Jordan (Sophomore), Olivia Vigue (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 5 @ Marshwood, Sept. 12 @ Falmouth, Sept. 17 PORTLAND, Sept. 26 @ GORHAM, Oct. 1 SCARBOROUGH, Oct. 8 @ Windham, Oct. 14 @ Thornton Academy

Coach’s comment: “The kids are healthy and we’re hoping to build on a successful season last year. We’re deep. We have a good group of senior leaders. It’s an unfinished product, but we’ll improve throughout the season. We hope to be right there when the playoffs start. We’ve been one of the last teams standing for several years and I’m proud of that. This year, we’re hoping to do big things.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus caught some folks by surprise a year ago when it made a spirited run to the semifinals. A young core has come of age and the Stags feel they’re capable of being right there with the elite powers this fall.

The offense features dangerous scoring threats from the likes of Brown, Foley, Monfa (runner-up on the team in scoring last season) and Annie Vigue (who led the team last year in goals and assists), all of whom were honorable mention league all-stars last year. The speedy Holmes, senior Caoimhe Oliver and sophomore Maddie Smith will also be in the mix. The back line figures to strong as well with Jordan, LaSalle, Prestes and Olivia Vigue (honorable mention last year) all returning. Senior Madelyn Tierney and freshman McKinley Ramsay will also be key on defense. Rush, who was an honorable mention all-star last season, returns in goal and has gained a reputation for making timely saves.

Cheverus just needs to figure out a way to score some goals against the perennial powers. If that happens, a trip to the regional final, or even a first-ever state game appearance, isn’t out of the question. This group will make plenty of noise in the weeks to come.

FIELD HOCKEY

Coach: Andrea Musante (first year)

2023 record: 18-0 (Beat Skowhegan, 2-1, to win Class A state title)

Top returning players: Gabrielle Blais (Senior), Sam DeGeorge (Senior), Lucy Johnson (Senior), Lillian Magda (Senior), Zoey Radford (Senior), Sophia St. John (Senior), Sadie Collins (Junior), Jordan Drouin (Junior), Anna Kennedy-Jensen (Junior), Joey Pompeo (Junior), Ellie Skolnekovich (Junior), Sydney Brunelle (Sophomore), Caroline Rousseau (Sophomore),

Pivotal games: Sept. 5 @ Biddeford, Sept. 12 SCARBOROUGH, Sept. 16 GORHAM, Sept. 18 @ Falmouth, Oct. 2 BIDDEFORD, Oct. 4 @ Gorham

Coach’s comment: “I’m very impressed with how well the girls are jelling and with their fitness level. They’re flexible trying different things and new positions. They’re not just great field hockey players, but great athletes and great leaders. The girls have a winning mindset and they know they’ll have to work for it. Expectations are high. We just want to stay focused and injury-free and come out strong.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus was in a different stratosphere a year ago, rolling through the regular season and regional playoffs without a loss before digging deep and avenging the prior year’s agonizing state game defeat with a memorable win over Skowhegan on Lucy Johnson’s goal with just under a minute to play. Graduation took Miss Maine Field Hockey winner Lily Johnson (she’s now playing at Boston University) and several other top contributors, but the cupboard is far from bare for Musante, as she replaces Theresa Arsenault, who is now the coach at St. Joseph’s College. Musante played field hockey at Plymouth State University and served two different stints as a Cheverus assistant (she also was at Yarmouth for two seasons). Musante knows her team is again wearing the bulls-eye, but she and the Stags are eager to meet the challenge.

Lucy Johnson stands alone when it comes to high school field hockey players in Maine. For starters, she now holds the state’s all-time scoring record with 118 goals (in just three years) and she simply plays at another level. Johnson, an All-State and All-Conference selection in 2023, is primed to bow out with a flourish before joining her sister at Boston University, but this year, there are no records to chase and she doesn’t have to carry the offense. Pompeo, who also made the All-Conference and All-State teams last season, is an elite midfielder, who can score and also stymie the opposition. Brunelle (who made the SMAA All-Rookie team a year ago) and Rousseau (who had multiple clutch playoff goals) both had strong freshman campaigns and will be even better this year. Blais and Radford bring experience and will be in the scoring mix as well. Collins is a midfielder to watch. The multi-sport athlete will play a bigger role this fall. St. John can do a little of everything and is invaluable to the cause. Defensively, Cheverus won’t concede many scoring opportunities behind DeGeorge, Drouin, Kennedy-Jensen and Magda. Last, but certainly not least, Skolnekovich is back in goal. She wasn’t tested often a year ago, but when she has to make a big save, she’s as reliable as they come.

After steamrolling through the region in recent years, Cheverus, which has won 46 straight regular season games, figures to have a tougher road, as Biddeford (the opening day foe) is highly touted and several other teams can’t wait for an opportunity to knock off the champs. After three straight regional titles and the program’s first two championships, these Stags still have something to prove. These seniors are looking for one more shiny piece of hardware and you certainly have to like their chances to bow out with one more coronation.

VOLLEYBALL

Coach: Gary Powers (first year)

2023 record: 9-7 (Lost, 3-0, to eventual champion Gorham in Class A state quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Bella Cortez (Senior), Lucy Kenney (Senior), Eliana White (Senior), Isla Willis (Senior), Mary Hackleman (Junior), Katie Napolitano-Aberle (Junior)

Pivotal matches: Sept. 5 FALMOUTH, Sept. 10 @ Cape Elizabeth, Sept. 16 @ Yarmouth, Sept. 19 GORHAM, Sept. 24 GREELY, Sept. 26 @ Scarborough, Oct. 3 SCARBOROUGH, Oct. 8 YORK, Oct. 10 @ Falmouth, Oct. 22 @ Gorham

Coach’s comment: “We seem to have all the pieces, it’s now trying to figure out where they fit together. There is great leadership and all the girls are working hard. Being a small school competing in Class A, we know what we are up against. We hope to qualify for the state tournament and make some noise there and see how far we can go. The team had an early exit last year and wants to go further this year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus has been a playoff regular in recent years, qualifying five straight postseasons, but the Stags have yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals. This year, the program comes under the leadership of Powers, who has a championship pedigree as an assistant at Greely and head coach at Falmouth (he also served as a coach at Gray-New Gloucester). This year’s team has several talented veterans and some intriguing new players joining the mix, suggesting that if all goes well, Cheverus will be a thorn in the side of the traditional powerhouses.

Cortez was a second-team league all-star in 2023. She’s a top libero in the league. Hackleman was an honorable mention all-star last season and will be a hitter to be reckoned with, both outside and in the middle. Other key returners include Kenney (defensive specialist), Napolitano-Aberle (right side hitter), White (setter) and Willis (right side hitter). There are newcomers to watch as well, a group which features junior setter Ada Pultorak, sophomore middle hitter hitter Eleanor Synder, sophomore outside/middle hitter Dylan Walker and freshman middle/outside hitter Frida Gray.

The Stags will get an opportunity to test themselves against all of the blue blood programs in the weeks to come, but they welcome the challenge. Look for this group to learn quickly from its new coach and be a formidable foe by mid-October. No one will welcome having to face Cheverus with the season on the line.

CROSS COUNTRY

Coach: Nick Denari (fifth year)

2023 results:
(Boys) 11th @ Class A state meet
(Girls) 8th @ Class A state meet

Top returning runners:
(Boys) Cash Kellen (Senior), Logan Whitmarsh (Senior), Arman Gurcan (Junior), Jackson Kayne (Junior)
(Girls) Grace Beeler (Junior), Meg Kingsley (Junior), Anica Hickey (Sophomore), Caty McCullough (Sophomore), Allie Schmitt (Sophomore), Brooke Stratos (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “I think if we run to expectations, the girls will be about fifth in the SMAA and seventh at the state meet, but if all goes right, we could be as high as third in the SMAA and fifth in Class A. That’s what we will be targeting. Last year, we had a small boys’ team, but we were very competitive with all seven runners on our roster under 19 minutes. This year, we will be similar. Our roster only has eight right now, but our upperclassmen are experienced. Our goal last season was top five at the regional and top 10 at the state meet. We almost hit those goals, finishing fifth at the regional and 11th at the state meet. Meeting or exceeding those results would be a great season for us.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Both Cheverus teams competed at states a year ago for the first time since 2014 and big things could be in store for the Stags this autumn.

The girls’ team is led by Schmitt, who came in 12th at the state meet as a freshman and was named a second-team league all-star. She’ll look to move into the top 10 this season. Hickey (50th) and Kingsley (55th) also scored a year ago at states. Beeler, McCullough and Stratos look to provide depth. Sophomore Annabel Kimball, who also plays field hockey, is a key newcomer who is poised to move to the front of the pack after a strong outdoor track season this past spring. Cheverus will be a factor throughout and could post its first top-five state meet finish since 2018 if all goes well.

On the boys’ side, after ending a long drought and qualifying for states last season, the Stags are eager to continue to climb up the ladder. Cheverus graduated league all-stars Danny McCartney and Ambrose McCullough, but returns state meet scorers Gurcan (66th) and Whitmarsh (76th). Kellen looks to build on a strong track season last year and help the pack and Kayne could move to the front of the line. That group is joined by four promising freshmen: Flynn Chamberlain, Alphy Kalloor, Jenson Niejadlik and Evan Trieu, who bring needed depth and hope for the future. The Stags will get better and better as the season progresses and will be at their best for the biggest meets.

GOLF

Coach: Billy Goodman (sixth year)

2023 results: (7th @ Class A state match)

Top returners: Liam Cloutier (Senior), Aaron Goodman (Senior), Christina Lapoint (Senior), Andrew Riley (Senior), Mick Madden (Junior), Matthew Paradis (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “We have experience and depth and we want to build on last year. We’re in the toughest division in the state. Scarborough and Falmouth are two of the best teams around. Our goal this year is to qualify for states and if we do, anything can happen.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus got to the state match a year ago and with an abundance of talent returning, not only could return, but could move up as this has the potential to be the best Stags squad in many seasons.

Madden is the top returner. He was a first-team league all-star a year ago and shot a round of 84 at last year’s state match. He hopes to be in the hunt for an individual crown come mid-October. Cloutier (79 last year, good for 12th in Class A, which capped an all-star campaign), Riley (84) and Paradis (87) also return from last year’s state team. Goodman is a seasoned veteran who has grown up around the sport and is eager to make his mark. Lapoint hopes to make a run at the girls’ crown. Junior Joe Mancini comes over from Portland and will be in the mix, as will promising sophomore Garrett Thees.

The Stags will get to measure themselves against defending state champion Falmouth and perennial powerhouse Scarborough during the regular season, matches which will make them stronger. Cheverus hopes to be at its best and most consistent for the qualifier and if all goes well, for the state match as well. The sky is the limit for this group.