Boys Cross Country

Coach: Dave Kahill

Last year’s record: 9-5

Key athletes: Sean Wyman (sr., Captain); Chris Mitchell (sr.); James Falconer (sr.); Thomas Hodgkins (Gavin Damian-Loring (jr.); Xander Keiter (so.); Steven Smith (so.); Josh Hyssong (fr.)

Key meets: First meet, at home against Cheverus/Marshwood/Windham; Regionals

Outlook: The Riots have lost five of their top eight since 2013 (mostly to graduation), and so face an uphill climb this year. But Kahill feels prepared. He says that Wyman “already is proving to be an outstanding leader.” The talented Damian-Loring returns looking sharp, and Keiter and Smith are in great shape to start the season; seniors Mitchell and Falconer, both new to cross country, show great potential, and Hodgkins and Hyssong “round out a solid core.” South Portland should prove competitive, improving consistently and likely qualifying for States.

Girls Cross Country

Coach: Karen Reardon

Last year’s record: Sixth at States

Key athletes: Janey Blackwell-Orr (sr.), Lauren Magnuson (sr.), Kyndra McKenzie (sr.), Casey Loring (jr.), Caitlyn Tucker (jr.), Meaghan Doyle (jr.), Serena McKenzie (so.), Abby Donahue (so.), Erica Magnuson (so.), Delphi Bourassa (fr.), Jenny DiPhillipo (fr.), Maddie Smith (fr.)

Key meets: Bonny Eagle/Massabesic, Festival of Champions, Regionals, States

Outlook: Graduations 2012 and 2013 did a number on the Lady Riots’ lineup, but Reardon happily has a strong group returning and talented newbies incoming as well. She’s confident, therefore, that her squad will contend among the top teams again this year, and can readily put her finger on why: Loring, for instance, is a top Class A runner, who took eighth at States last year and advanced to New Englands. Meanwhile, Blackwell-Orr is only in her second year of XC, but could easily break the team’s top five and Lauren Magnuson, though known especially for her sprinting, has consistently been in the South Portland top seven. “It’s still early so far, but the girls are showing a lot of potential,” Reardon says.

Field Hockey

Coach: Leslie Dyer

Last year’s record: 3-10-1

Key players: Michelle Medici (sr., D); Maddie Hasson (jr., M); Lydia Henderson (so., F)

Outlook: South Portland is young in 2014, with just one returning senior, four returners overall, six sophomores and six freshmen. Dyer calls them “intense and driven,” however, and looks to turn some of last season’s close losses into this season’s additional victories. This will be another building year for the Lady Riots, but Dyer is excited about their prospects nevertheless, and looks forward to finally returning a majority of the team come next year.

Football

Coach: Steve Stinson (10th year)

Last year’s record: 5-4

Key players: Matt Stearns (sr., RB/DB); Jaren Muller (sr., TE/DE); Hayden Owen (sr., WR/DB)

Key games: Thornton, Bonny Eagle, Portland

Outlook: “[We’re] a young team with some key holes to fill,” Stinson says. Indeed, the Red Riots have just five starters returning on offense and five on defense. Luckily, among those are two All-Conference players, Muller and Owen. “We hope to improve each week and qualify for playoffs.”

Golf

Coach: Tom Hyland

Last year’s record: 2-8

Key players: Jackman Mickiewicz, Matt Pelletier, Griffin Henderson

Key matches: Scarborough, Falmouth, Deering, Portland

Outlook: South Portland has both experience and upcoming talent on their side in 2014. “We’re poised to make a move this year, with three returning top-three players who’ve had consistent varsity experience,” Hyland says. “Their hard work and discipline should put us in a position to challenge for a playoff spot. We’re excited with six freshmen with a desire and a willingness to build this program into a perennial contender.”

Boys Soccer

Coach: Bryan Hoy

Last year’s record: 8-5-1

Key players: Henry Curran (sr.), Silas Zechman (sr.), Bryan Currie (sr.), Ahmed Suja (jr.), Khalid Suja (so.)

Key games: Scarborough, Deering, Portland, Gorham

Outlook: “After a strong showing this summer, we’re hoping to finish near the top of the league,” Hoy says of the coming season. The Riots surely aren’t shy on talent: Curran has developed into an excellent goaltender – “one of the best in the conference,” says Hoy – and captains Zechman and Currie will anchor the squad’s defense, which Hoy believes will prove strong. Ahmed Suja will help lead the South Portland attack, having “blossomed into one of the top players in the conference.” His brother, Khalid, a transfer from Waynflete, should provide additional firepower.

Girls Soccer

Coach: Jeff Selser (first year)

Key players: Sam Munson, Aimee LaPlante, Colleen Fleming, Christina Ekholm, Emma Russell

Key games: Scarborough, Windham, Gorham, Thornton

Outlook: “South Portland will surprise a lot of people this year,” Selser says. “The team is deep with talent and will be looking to make a huge move from last season.” The Lady Riots’ “multiple scoring threats” lead a team that’s “strong in every position,” giving both Selser and his squad justified high hopes.

Volleyball

Coach: Autumn Hawkes

Last year’s record: 2-12

Key players: Holly Black (sr.), Paige Carter (sr.), Molly Mawhinney (fr.)

Key matches: Cony, Kennebunk, NYA

Outlook: Coach Hawkes is excited for this season, just South Portland’s second on the varsity volleyball circuit. “We have a much better baseline of skills coming into this year,” she says. “We have a lot of players that are coming out really strong so far in preseason, and we can’t wait to get out there and play.”

SCHEDULES

Cross Country

Sept. 4 @ Thornton (SMAA Relays) 4 p.m.

Sept. 12 Cheverus, Marshwood, Windham 4 p.m.

Sept. 19 @ Massabesic (Bonny Eagle, Deering) 4 p.m.

Sept. 26 @ Gorham (Portland, Sanford) 4 p.m.

Oct. 4 Festival of Champions TBA

Oct. 9 @ McAuley (Noble, Scarborough) 4 p.m.

Oct. 17 @ Biddeford (Thornton, Westbrook) 4 p.m.

Oct. 20 Second 7 Meet TBA

Oct. 25 Regionals TBA

Nov. 1 States TBA

Nov. 8 New Englands TBA

Field Hockey

Sept. 4 Gorham 4 p.m.

Sept. 8 @ Marshwood 4 p.m.

Sept. 10 Massabesic 4 p.m.

Sept. 16 @ Noble 4 p.m.

Sept. 18 Portland 4 p.m.

Sept. 22 @ Sanford 6:05 p.m.

Sept. 24 Scarborough 4 p.m.

Sept. 26 @ Windham 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 30 @ Thornton 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 Westbrook 4 p.m.

Oct. 6 @ Biddeford 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 Bonny Eagle 4 p.m.

Oct. 10 @ McAuley 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 14 Cheverus 4 p.m.

Football

Sept. 6 @ Thornton 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 Bonny Eagle 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 @ Massabesic 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 @ Noble 1 p.m.

Oct. 3 Sanford 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 Scarborough 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 @ Biddeford 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 Portland 1 p.m.

Golf

Sept. 3 @ Portland 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 @ Scarborough 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 Cheverus 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 Deering 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 @ Falmouth 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 Portland 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 Scarborough 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 @ Cheverus 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 30 Falmouth 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Deering 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 SMAA Qualifiers TBA

Oct. 8 SMAAs TBA

Oct. 11 Team States TBA

Oct. 18 Individual States TBA

Boys Soccer

Sept. 5 Scarborough 7 p.m.

Sept. 9 Thornton 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 @ Gorham 6 p.m.

Sept. 16 @ Westbrook 6 p.m.

Sept. 20 Noble 12 p.m.

Sept. 23 @ Windham 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 Deering 6 p.m.

Sept. 30 Biddeford 6 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Portland 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 @ Cheverus 4 p.m.

Oct. 9 Massabesic 6 p.m.

Oct. 14 @ Sanford 6 p.m.

Oct. 16 @ Bonny Eagle 6 p.m.

Oct. 21 Marshwood 6 p.m.

Girls Soccer

Sept. 5 Scarborough 5 p.m.

Sept. 10 @ Thornton 4 p.m.

Sept. 13 Gorham 12 p.m.

Sept. 17 Westbrook 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 @ McAuley 4 p.m.

Sept. 22 @ Deering 5 p.m.

Sept. 24 Windham 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 Biddeford 6 p.m.

Oct. 4 @ Portland 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 8 Cheverus 6 p.m.

Oct. 11 @ Massabesic 12 p.m.

Oct. 15 Sanford 6 p.m.

Oct. 18 @ Bonny Eagle 12 p.m.

Oct. 21 @ Marshwood 6 p.m.

Volleyball

Sept. 5 @ Thornton 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 9 Cape Elizabeth 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 Gorham 6 p.m.

Sept. 16 @ Biddeford 6 p.m.

Sept. 18 @ Falmouth 6 p.m.

Sept. 23 Cony 6 p.m.

Sept. 25 @ Cheverus 6 p.m.

Sept. 29 Windham 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 @ Scarborough 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 @ Kennebunk 6 p.m.

Oct. 11 Lake Region 6 p.m.

Oct. 14 Greely 6 p.m.

Oct. 16 @ Gorham 6 p.m.

Oct. 20 North Yarmouth 6 p.m.