Last week’s varsity game recaps for fall varsity sports

Cross Country

On Sunday, Oct. 2 the cross country team traveled to Belfast for the Festival of Champions. Aidan Gagnon placed ninth out of 251 runners in the unseeded heat of the tough 5k course and also ran an outstanding 30 second personal record.

“The entire team looked amazing and we keep making progress toward the post season,” said Coach Smith. “As a young team filled with many rookies it is encouraging to see the hard work pay off.”

Field Hockey

On Tuesday, Sept. 27 the Varsity Field Hockey team fell to Massabesic 3-1. Junior Hannah Mueller scored (unassisted) for Sanford and sophomore goalie Megan Sheppard made seven saves for Sanford.

The Spartans also fell in their homecoming game against Noble 3-0 on Thursday, Sept. 29. Sheppard made 10 saves.

This week, they travel to Westbrook to play Westbrook/South Portland on Wednesday, Oct. 5, then travel to Falmouth on Friday, Oct. 7, and host Gorham for their third match of the week on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Football

Spartan Football hosted Edward Little for their homecoming game, winning 48-8. The game held a moment of silence to remember the beloved late Rich Wilkins, former teacher and coach in the district. The gym at Margaret Chase Smith School has officially been dedicated to Wilkins by the Sanford Schools Legacy Foundation and Sanford Federation of Teachers.

Sanford finished the game with 294 total yards, 253 of which were rushing. Cam Suhy led the team in yards with 95 with 1 TD, senior Luke “LJ” McFarland ran 89 yards, received for 41 and scored 2 TDs; and Jordan Bissonette ran 64 yards and scored 3 TDs. Jake Doughty also tacked on a TD. Rhylen Avery, Jayden Payeur, and Landon Belair led the Spartans in tackles.

The squad hosts Massabesic this week on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7pm. Sanford seventh grader Chace Fromwiller, who is currently fighting cancer, will be the honorary captain for the game.  Students are encouraged to wear blue to show our school wide support for “Frommie’s Fight.” 

Boys Soccer

Last week, Sanford Boys Soccer earned their first win of the season at their homecoming game on Monday, Sept. 26 against Biddeford. They defeated the tigers 4-0 in an exciting offensive game, supported by a student crowd covered in pink!

The seniors put on a show in the first half. Senior Captain Joel Morrison started off the attack in the 13th minute from an assist by Shawn Puffer. Brady Taylor then scored five minutes later off an assist by Eli Coleman.

In the second half, sophomore Cole Adawadkar scored twice for the Spartans, the first coming in the 44th minute off a rebounded corner kick. The second goal was just eight minutes later, assisted by Morrison. Goalkeeper Tommy Hickey earned a shutout in the victory, seeing only three shots on net.

The Spartans traveled to Windham High School on Sept. 28 and fell 7-1. Morrison scored in the 71st minute on a penalty kick. Hickey tallied eight saves.

This week, the squad travels to Marshwood on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and hosts Gorham for Senior Recognition night on Saturday, Oct. 8 at noon.

Girls Soccer

The Sanford Girls Soccer Team traveled to Bonny Eagle on Monday, Sept. 26 after their originally scheduled game the previous week was rained out. The Spartans defeated the Scots 2-0. Freshman Ava Hudson scored 10 minutes into the second half off of a quick flick back by junior captain Ailey Mann just outside of the 18. With 3 minutes left in the game, senior captain Emerson Tolpin sealed the victory with a killer low left corner shot off a cross from sophomore Addie Fiandaca. Freshman Goalie Sophie Olivo had seven saves, earning her fourth shutout game as a varsity keeper.

“We knew that Bonny Eagle looked at our team as a winnable game for them,” said Coach Agreste. “Our girls played hard for the full 80 minutes and proved that they are a team that needs to be taken seriously. It was a great win for the program.”

The following day, the girls hosted returning state champions Windham High School for their homecoming game. The crowd showed up in neon and stuck through the tight game that went into overtime, but unfortunately, the Spartans fell 3-2 in the final second.

Sanford scored first in the first five minutes of the game with a nice cross from Fiandaca to junior Hailey Tarbox, who crashed the net a finished with a nice volley. Windham came back to tie it with seven minutes left in the first. Sanford controlled the play starting the second half and scored with 29 minutes remaining to go up 2-1 when Hudson put it in the back of the net off a free kick. Windham battled back and matched it with a free kick to tie it up. Both teams had chances during the first overtime, but Windham ultimately scored with .8 remaining on the clock.

“We played two hard games back to back. I am really proud of our team for battling against a top-tier team and almost pulling out a win,” said Agreste.

In their third and final contest of the week, the Spartans traveled to Biddeford and defeated the Tigers 5-0. Tarbox scored two goals for the squad, one assisted by Mann. Senior captain Mia Kane put one on the board from a cross by Hudson. The fourth goal was scored by senior Ella Daskowski (unassisted), and freshman Annie Stimmell scored her first varsity goal off a rebound.

This week, the Spartans host Marshwood on Tuesdsay, Oct. 4, and travel to Gorham on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Volleyball

The Girls Volleyball team faced their first losses of the season this week, first on the road at Bonny Eagle on Tuesday, Sept. 27. They lost 3-1 to Cheverus at home on Wednesday in a tough battle.

They bounced back on Saturday, Oct. 1 with a 3-0 win against Windham. Senior captain Kora Eckelman had 13 kills and five blocks; sophomore Samone Gallagher had eight kills and eight blocks, and senior captain Billi Bruno tallied 17 digs.

This week, the Spartans travel to Biddeford on Thursday, Oct. 6, and to Kennebunk on Saturday, Oct. 8.