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.

“They did a really good job of getting numbers behind the ball,” said Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson. “We had some great chances in the first half but even better ones in the second. They were dangerous and they got one chance and they put it in.”

Pitman, the winner of the Central California Conference, battled St. Francis for the first 70 minutes before scoring off a  `long throw in that was headed into the goal by Rayana Plancarte. Faced with elimination with an opening-round loss, the Troubadours rallied.

Junior Savannah Tijerino-Santos was fouled in the box and earned a penalty kick in the 75^th minute. She placed it perfectly in the left side of the goal.

“We talked at halftime how we can be more dangerous,” said Robinson. “She made herself dangerous. She got the ball, turned and dribbled at them and got fouled. She created that. Savannah had a great PK and it was a chance she generated.”

It was the sixth goal of the season for Tijerino-Santos, tying the game late and reenergizing the Troubadour team.

“We were trying to win and I was so nervous,” said Tijerino-Santos. “I am glad I got to knock it in because it picked up the adrenaline of our team. We needed that to get our stuff together and get the win.”

Facing overtime, the Troubadours avoided the late challenge by Pitman and setup another scoring chance three minutes later. Simpkins scored off a free kick with a strike in the right corner of the net that squeaked by the goalkeeper.

“Taylor put a great one in and the keeper made a nice save,” said Robinson. “I am glad it squirted in.”

Simpkins’ goal gave SF the lead and eventual win.

“I knew the other team wanted to get a foot on it and get the ball out,” said Simpkins. “It was a chance but it wasn’t just my goal that helped. It was everything that surrounded it and the plays that led up to that goal.”

Nicolos made several big plays in the goal for the Troubadours and the defense played hard all game against a challenging team from Turlock.

“We knew we had to get in gear or this was the end of our season,” said Nicolos, who made 11 saves in goal. “We did just that with responding with a goal and then another to get the lead and ultimately the lead. Everyone hustled so much today especially the four backs.  Everyone did their part and made my job easier.”

St. Francis will play the Woodcreek-McClatchy winner on Thursday.

“It is a team effort,” said Simpkins. “It is not just individual work. It is all of us combined, the communication. We are a family and that is what makes us one of the best teams out there.”

First round/Tuesday
Davis Sr. 10, Edison 0
Kennedy 2, River City 1
St. Francis 2, Pitman 1
Woodcreek 3, McClatchy 0
Franklin-EG 7, Gregori 0
Wood 4, Oak Ridge 3
Pleasant Grove 3, St. Mary’s 2 (OT)
Rocklin 7, McNair 0

SF – Tijerino-Santos, Simpkins. P – Plancarte.