Athletic News
Athletics News 5/13/16
Track and Field competes at the Sac-Joaquin Section Trials and Finals in the next step towards qualifying for the state championships. Swimming and Diving will be represented at the CIF State Championships May 20-21. Both soccer and softball continue potential playoff action this week. For a complete look at the athletics schedule, click here.
Soccer Falls to Woodcreek in Section Quarterfinals
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – The St. Francis soccer team lost 2-0 to No. 4 seed Woodcreek in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs on Thursday.
“I thought we came out a little flat and they came out ready to go,” said Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson. “The first one was a little easy and we made some adjustments. We then had a game and had some good chances. We played them tight and the last one was poor housekeeping on our part.”
Track and Field’s Sam Carrothers Coordinates SAAC Play-it-Forward Equipment Campaign
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman volleyball and soccer standout Jess Ponik had an idea. Ponik, who plays sports year round, wondered if anyone could use some of her old sports equipment. She thought the case might be the same for some of her classmates so she made a suggestion to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
“Jess Ponik suggested the idea and we just ran with it,” said senior track and field athlete Samantha Carrothers.
2016 Softball Senior Game
St. Francis softball celebrated their five seniors with an 8-3 win over Monterey Trail on May 9.
Softball Closes Regular Season with Win Streak
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis softball team closed the regular season with a three-game win streak.
The Troubadours finished the regular season with a 14-4 win over Grant on Wednesday. Mel Baccay went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Sydney Littles added four hits and scored three runs in the win. Shelby Tevis and Hannah Willover each added two hits.
The program celebrated their seniors on Wednesday with an 8-3 come-from-behind win over Monterey Trail.
Soccer Advances in Section Playoffs with 2-1 Win over Pitman
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It took falling behind late in the game to jump start the St. Francis offense but it was enough as the St. Francis prevailed 2-1 over Pitman Tuesday afternoon.
“They wanted to win and it looked like they wanted to win more than us at first,” said junior Taylor Simpkins. “We kicked it in and we knew we had to step it up. We did and we got it.”
St. Francis scored twice in the final six minutes to overcome a 1-0 deficit and advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals.
Soccer Garners No. 5 Seed in Section Playoffs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis soccer team was awarded a No. 5 seed in the Sac Joaquin Section playoffs starting Tuesday, May 10. The Troubadours will host No. 12 Pitman at 4:00 p.m. at St. Francis.
Pitman, located in Turlock, won the Central California Conference with a 10-1-4 mark and went 15-6-5 overall. The Pride are led by Rayana Plancarte, who led the team with 21 goals and 14 assists.
St. Francis finished the regular season with a 13-3-4 record, including a 7-3-4 mark in the Delta League action to finish third overall
Twenty-One Troubadours Earn River Cats All-City Sponsored by SportsStars
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis had 21 selections to the River Cats All-City teams sponsored by SportsStars presented prior to the game Sunday at Raley Field. The Troubadours had student-athletes selected to each team led by four from the Sac-Joaquin Section winning water polo team.
Alumna Zoe Nightingale Wins NCAA Title with USC Beach Volleyball Team
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Alumna Zoe Nightingale ’11 helped the top-ranked USC Trojans win the inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 win over No. 2 Florida State. The Women of Troy completed the year on an incredible 30-match winning streak.
Track and Field Starts Championship Season
ELK GROVE, Calif. – St. Francis triple threat Ariane Arndt, Lilly Enes and Kiani Reyna were the top three qualifiers in the 400 meters as each qualified for a pair of events at the Delta League Trials held Friday night at the Sheldon-Franklin Community Track.
Diver Molly Wilson Wins Sac-Joaquin Section Diving Title
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Molly Wilson won the Sac-Joaquin Section Diving Championship and will represent St. Francis at the CIF State Diving Championships.
“It feels really, really good,” said Wilson after the awards ceremony. “I did pretty well and did my dives as best as I can.”
Wilson, who is from Carmichael, started diving just a year ago and was named Most Improved Diver at the school’s banquet as a freshman. She has been competing in gymnastics since she was two years old and picked up the sport after a friend suggested she try it.
Basketball’s Craig to Sign to Play at Pepperdine
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Lauren Craig has committed to play basketball at Pepperdine University next fall on a full scholarship.
“I am so excited,” said Craig. “It is a dream come true. I love the school and the program. It is great.”
Three Divers Advance to Section Finals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Molly Wilson and senior Tiffany Wong both advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Diving Finals on Saturday. They will compete for a berth in the CIF State Diving Championships May 20-21 in Clovis.
“I think today went pretty well,” said Wilson. “(I was happy) with my reverse one-and-a-half. I got 8s on it. I have improved a lot in the past year.”
Wilson was second overall with an All-American qualifying score of 411.45 to place behind Rachel Choi of Rio Americano, who recorded a 418.55.
Lacrosse Falls at Oak Ridge in Conference Semifinals
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – Top-seeded Oak Ridge advanced to the finals of the Sacramento Valley Lacrosse Conference with a 15-9 victory over St. Francis Tuesday night. But the Troubadours second-half rally pushed Oak Ridge until the end.
Softball Falls Short in Upset Bid over Top-Ranked Sheldon
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis softball team rallied to take a 4-2 lead and was tied heading into the final inning before the Huskies prevailed 9-5 on Wednesday.
“We are disappointed with how things turned out but I thought the girls battled and got ahead,” said Head Coach Kevin Warren. “If we had a couple of shut down innings, the outcome could have been different.”
Basketball’s Huffman to Play at Knox College
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior forward Kyra Huffman will continue her basketball career at Knox College located in Galesburg, Ill., next fall.
“It has always been a dream of mine,” said Huffman of playing college basketball. “To finally fulfill it is an amazing feeling.”
Knox is a member of the NCAA Division III and the Midwest Conference (MWC), one of the oldest conferences in the nation. Competition in the conference is intense and spirited, including the local rivalry between Knox and Monmouth College — the sixth-oldest athletic rivalry in the country.
Soccer Closes Home State with Senior Game Win
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Ariana Avila dribbled almost the full length of the field and placed the ball in the net to give St. Francis an early lead in a 4-0 victory over Monterey Trail. The game was the final regular season home game for the season including the 13 seniors.
Former Troubie Clare Perez ’15 Named Best Newcomer Nominee
Former Troubie Clare Perez ’15 was a nominee for Best Newcomer at the Sacramento State’s Green and Golden Globes Award banquet. Perez is contributing the second varsity boat for the Hornets. Check out the video (got to 1:10 mark).
Basketball Programs Celebrate Seasons
The St. Francis basketball program celebrated their 2015-16 seasons at the annual banquet at the Old Spaghetti Factory on April 28. Here is a list of all the award winners from all three levels.
Varsity Basketball Awards
Comeback Player of the Year - Kyra Huffman
Most Improved Player - Aliyah Williams
Record 3-Point Shooter - Janae Fairbrook
Most Inspirational Player - Tia Hay
Rookie of the Year - Jackie Koerwitz