Athletic News
Water Polo Drops 11-7 Game to Davis
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis water polo team scored three straight goals to cut the deficit to one with just under four minutes to play but Davis pulled away in the final minutes to post an 11-7 victory at Jesuit High School Tuesday night.
“I felt like we seemed to be in control most of the game,” said Head Coach Heather Moody. “It was just small little mistakes that we made that they really capitalized on. In the fourth quarter, they really stepped it up a bit.”
Golf Advances to CIF NorCals
STOCKTON, Calif. – The St. Francis golf team finished third at the 2013 Sac-Joaquin Section/Les Schwab Tires Masters girls golf tournament at The Reserve at Spanos Park Monday.
“I think overall I am extremely pleased,” said Head Coach Cindy Mah-Lyford. “I think this will spark them and we will have six very motivated girls for next week.”
St. Francis, the Division I North champion, entered the tournament undefeated on the season and had won the Masters tournament six of the last seven years (Christian Brothers won in 2011).
Troubie Trio Looking Forward to Davis Matchup Tuesday
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Marisa Zanobini will drive across the Blecher-Freeman Memorial Causeway Tuesday morning like she does every morning . With her two teammates in tow, they talk about everything on their drive into Sacramento to attend St. Francis High School. But the most likely subject Tuesday will be the matchup against Davis Senior.
Cross Country Finishes Fifth in Mt. Sac Team Sweepstakes Race
WALNUT, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team placed three runners among the top 10 and finished fifth at the prestigious Mt. Sac Girls Sweepstakes race Saturday morning.
“We were able to beat several of the top rated teams in the state and it gave our girls a huge boost,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “Matching up in the Mt. Sac Sweepstakes is a great dress rehearsal for the state meet.”
Volleyball Wins Seventh Straight
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team won its seventh consecutive game with a straight set win over Folsom Wednesday night.
“They had fun and it showed in their play,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “It was great to see everybody get game time, make big plays and contributions. It is exciting because the future looks bright. The kids have worked hard and their hard work has paid off.”
Tennis Closes Home Slate with 7-2 Win
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Avery Spector led the singles charge with a straight set sweep without dropping a game as St. Francis closed their Delta River League home action with a 7-2 victory over Folsom.
Spector defeated Joanne Wu 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. The Troubadours also got victories from Kendall Spector, Jane Sadler, Anna Kropf and Perneet Powar.
Water Polo Gets Four Goals from Oys in 11-8 Win
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Maggie Oys scored four goals including three in the fourth quarter to help St. Francis to an 11-8 victory over Granite Bay Tuesday night at Jesuit High School.
“I was excited that we scored 11 goals,” said Head Coach Heather Moody. “We have been struggling offensively pretty much all season. It is exciting to see the girls applying what we have been working on and getting the goals in there.”
Golf Wins Eighth Consecutive Division I North Title
ROCKLIN, Calif. – Senior Ileana MacDonald shot a team-best six-over par 78 to lead St. Francis to the Sac-Joaquin Division I North Section title for the eighth consecutive season Monday at Rocklin Golf Club. It is the 87th Section title in school history.
MacDonald tied for fifth overall in the field. Roseville’s Virgie Velasquez was low player on the day with a two-under par 70.
“It was a pretty good round,” said MacDonald. “The greens were pretty fast but my ball striking was spot on today. It is a good way to start off the postseason.”
St. Francis Cross Country Wins Bronco Invitational
FOLSOM, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team edged Clovis Nprth to take the team title at the Bronco Invitational at the Willow Hills Reservoir course Saturday morning. It was sixth meet win this season for the Troubadours.
“Today was a great matchup,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “Clovis North is one of the top ranked teams in the state of California. We are pleased to go head-to-head with them and have our girls run some very good performances.”
Countdown to Signing Day: Golfer Emily Laskin (U.S. Naval Academy)
An Officer and a Golfer
Twenty-six St. Francis student-athletes signed or committed to play collegiate athletics to a combined 22 NCAA institutions in 2012-13. St. Francis Assistant AD for Sports Information Steven Shaff will feature each Troubie who has either committed or been offered to play collegiate athletics next season prior to the early signing period that begins on Nov. 13.
Water Polo Opens Season at St. Francis Invitational
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – New Head Coach Heather Moody takes her team on the road this weekend to play in the St. Francis Invitational hosted by St. Francis High School in Mountain View. The tournament features a 16-school field with play at both St. Francis and Sacred Heart Prep.
Tennis Gets Win over Ponderosa
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Perneet Powar recorded a straight set victory over Paige Bergin to help St. Francis post an 8-1 victory over Ponderosa Thursday. The Troubadours improved to 6-2 on the season.
Powar won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 singles as the Troubadours swept all six singles matches. St. Francis also got wins from Avery Spector at No. 1, Kendall Spector at No. 2 and Eden Elliott at No. 4. Antonia Gianulias and Marcela Sosa also won their matches in straight sets.
Water Polo Defeats St. Mary’s 9-8
STOCKTON, Calif. – Senior Brinnley Barthels scored with 42 seconds left and the Troubies held off a final attempt by St. Mary’s that hit the cross bar to post a 9-8 win in Stockton Wednesday night.
The decisive goal was the third for Barthels in the game. Maggie Oys added two and four players each scored once in the contest including Lauren Charter, Cherie Murbach, Emily Reinl and Marisa Zanobini.
St. Francis took an early 4-1 lead and led 5-3 at halftime but found themselves tied at 8 with a minute left in the final period, setting up the winning goal by Barthels.
Volleyball Remains Undefeated in League
SHINGLE SPRINGS, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team remained perfect in Delta River League play with a 3-0 win over Oak Ridge Wednesday night. The Troubadours won 25-23, 25-16, 25-19 to move to 5-0 in league play and 22-5 overall.
“They are a very good team,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “They have a lot of weapons and play good, scrappy defense and they served tough.”
Oak Ridge and St. Francis both entered the match 4-0 in Delta River League play.
Golf Wins Final DRL Event and League Title
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – The St. Francis golf team completed league play undefeated to capture the Delta River League title for the second consecutive season. The Troubadours won their third DRL event of the year, posting a 417 team score to win the event by 16 strokes over Oak Ridge.
“It means a lot to the three seniors we have on the team,” said Head Coach Cindy Mah-Lyford. “They have been to the postseason every year they have been on the team. It was not a sure thing and there was a lot of hard playing. They came together to have a pretty decisive win.”
Cross Country Wins Second Meet of the Week
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Lauren LaRocco ran a personal-best for the third straight race to win The Other Meet title with a time of 16:56 to lead St. Francis to the overall team titles.
St. Francis scored a team-best 28 points to defeat Del Campo, Sierra, Dixon and McClatchy. The Troubadours had Miranda Myers place third overall in 17:50 and Camille Boudreaux cross the line fourth in 18:38. Ariel Medina was eighth in 19:28.
Chase Worthen was 13th overall and Mallory Shingle placed 15th.
The Other Meet – Varsity Girls
Tennis Defeats Sheldon 6-3
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Jane Sadler won at No. 1 singles and St. Francis won five of the six singles matches en route to a 6-3 victory over Sheldon. The Troubadours got singles wins from Anna Kropf, Perneet Powar, Eden Elliott and Marcela Sosa.
Sheldon won two of the three doubles matches. Michal Dial and Abby Benvenuti combined for a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles for the Troubies.
St. Francis sat their top two players in singles, showing the depth of the roster.
St. Francis (5-1) hosts Oak Ridge on Tuesday.
ST. FRANCIS 6, SHELDON 3
LaRocco Breaks DRL Record
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Lauren LaRocco ran a personal-best 17:18 at Granite Regional Park at the Delta River League meet to win the race in a course and league record time. St. Francis placed 1-2-3 with four in the top five and five in the top 10 to claim the race with 21 points.
“Madison was pushing me for the first mile and it is a relatively flat course,” said LaRocco. “It felt like a hard workout. It was nice with everyone cheering. There was a lot of support out there today.”
MacDonald Leads Golf with Career-Best 35
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Ileana MacDonald shot a career-best one-under par 35 to lead the St. Francis golf team to a two-stroke victory at Haggin Oaks Wednesday.
The Troubadours posted a 202 team score to defeat Oak Ridge (204) by just two strokes.
Senior Emily Laskin carded an even-par 36 to record the second-best round on the day. Sophomore Kate Swanson shot a 43 filling in for senior Victoria Vardanega, who missed the match due to illness.
Victoria Ramirez equaled the 43 and Mikia Fang recorded a 45. Sophomore Kristi Lee rounded out the scoring with a 49.
Tennis Defeats Pleasant Grove 8-1
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis tennis team improved to 4-1 with an 8-1 victory over Pleasant Grove Tuesday. The Troubadours swept all six singles matches and two of the three doubles matches. St. Francis travels to Sheldon at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday.
ST. FRANCIS 8, PLEASANT GROVE 1
Singles