CLOVIS, Calif. – Juniors Maggie Oys and Julie Zanobini scored a combined four goals in the second half to help No. 2 seed St. Francis advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section finals against Davis with an 8-4 win on Thursday.

 “It feels really good,” said Oys. “I am really proud of the way the team played and I am looking forward to Saturday.”

Both Oys and Zanobini are from Davis and led the charge in the second half to setup the section championship appearance against rival Davis.

Tied at 2 at the half, Zanobini, who scored the game winner in the semifinals last season, put the Troubadours ahead to for good with a goal at the 4:09 mark of the third quarter.  She added a second goal in the fourth quarter.

“Julie seems to be one of those players that get in the mix and into position to be shooting,” said Head Coach Heather Moody. “She likes to take that on and likes the pressure. She had the drive to finish that one.”

Senior Lauren Charter, the Troubadours leading scorer, added a goal with 1:44 left in the quarter to increase the lead to 4-2.

“We had a really solid defensive front,” said Moody. “They did a really good job defensively and Vintage only had a few opportunities with the shots on cage. We had to focus on finishing our shots. It did not take effect until the fourth quarter.”

Oys added back-to-back goals in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-2.

“In the second quarter we decided we wanted to play on Saturday and we were playing to not lose. We played to win and be in that game. That is where we deserve to be and we made it.”

Overall six players scored in the contest for the Troubadours including single goals by Jennalyn Barthels, Kira Chavez and Sam Reinl.

“It is a team attack and it is nice to hear them talking about hitting the open player,” said Moody. “It is not just one player. They are in the right spots and they are pulling the trigger.”

Barthels opened the scoring in the first quarter but Vintage scored the next two to take a 2-1 advantage. Reinl tied the game at 2 at the 6:26 mark of the second quarter, tying the game before halftime.

“We had a ton of opportunities,” said Moody of the St. Francis first half. “We just could not get the ball in the cage. We had to make sure we kept shooting and attacking.”

Davis and St. Francis will be meeting in the section final for the 11th consecutive season.

 “This team is one that can really do it,” said Oys. “Most of us are working year round. I think it is going to be make a difference. We have been playing together and working hard. We have played Davis twice this season and for multiple years. I think it is going to be a really good game.”

“I think we really tried coming into the game to come out hard and push the momentum,” said Oys.

Game time is 3:30 p.m. in Roseville hosted by Woodcreek High School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

ST. FRANCIS 8, VINTAGE 4

SF – Oys 2, Zanobini 2, Barthels, Charter, Chavez, Reinl. V – Schaffle 2, Anderson 2.