Posted: Mar 04, 2025
MATHER, Calif. – Junior Keira Miles led nine St. Francis varsity scorers with four goals while senior Karly Okamoto finished with a hat trick and five assists for a team-leading eight points, leading the offensive charge in a 20-1 win over Rocklin to kick off the 2025 girls' lacrosse season at Mather Sports Complex Tuesday night.
The Troubadours, which only play Sierra Foothill League games this season, open the year at 1-0.
Besides Miles and Okamoto, Jade Abalateo, Olivia Hamm, Tristan Garcia, Skye Smith, Sara Ellis and Zia Smith each scored two goals. Senior Cami Zucker got a chance to move from the defensive crew to the midfield for the fourth quarter, and responded by converting an eight-meter opportunity in the first minute of the frame.
Miles scored all four of her goals as part of an 8-0 first frame, then Garcia and Z. Smith popped back-to-back goals in the second to make it 10-0, invoking the running clock. Rocklin responded with a goal at the 5:26 to bring the margin back to single digits, but a Garcia midfield pickup set the stage for a Smith-to-Smith connection with a minute before halftime. Zia Smith delivered to Skye Smith to make it 11-1 at the break.
Zia Smith led the Troubies with five draw controls, with Miles adding two. Hamm also had two assists and four ground balls while matching Ellis with a team-best two caused turnovers.
The Troubadours, which only play Sierra Foothill League games this season, open the year at 1-0.
Besides Miles and Okamoto, Jade Abalateo, Olivia Hamm, Tristan Garcia, Skye Smith, Sara Ellis and Zia Smith each scored two goals. Senior Cami Zucker got a chance to move from the defensive crew to the midfield for the fourth quarter, and responded by converting an eight-meter opportunity in the first minute of the frame.
Miles scored all four of her goals as part of an 8-0 first frame, then Garcia and Z. Smith popped back-to-back goals in the second to make it 10-0, invoking the running clock. Rocklin responded with a goal at the 5:26 to bring the margin back to single digits, but a Garcia midfield pickup set the stage for a Smith-to-Smith connection with a minute before halftime. Zia Smith delivered to Skye Smith to make it 11-1 at the break.
Zia Smith led the Troubies with five draw controls, with Miles adding two. Hamm also had two assists and four ground balls while matching Ellis with a team-best two caused turnovers.
Garcia and Skye Smith continue recent trends of having experienced freshmen begin their St. Francis careers on the varsity squad. Goalkeeper Jayel Miller played all 626 minutes in the crease in 2023-24, Ellis and Miles contributed significantly in 2022-23, while Okamoto, Zucker and Matea Avery played all or most of the 2022-23 season as froshies.
St. Francis junior varsity opened the doubleheader with a 6-4 loss to the Thunder, valiantly battling back from a 5-0 deficit early in the third quarter. Sophomore Lucia Shepard made her Troubie debut with three straight goals: an interception and crease roll at 5:33 in the third, off a ground ball pickup less than a minute later, then another roll in the final minute of the game.
Akira Feguis put the jayvees on the board earlier in the third. Sophomore Taylor Crotsley missed on an eight-meter chance, but Feguis won possession behind the cage and came up with the second-chance finish.
Goalkeepers Angela Miles and Claire Gabri posted save totals of three and six, respectively. Gabri, who emerged into the position a year ago, surrendered a goal just 25 seconds after the halftime break but then halted six shots down the stretch to give her team a chance to rally back into contention.
St. Francis heads to Folsom on Thursday then Oak Ridge on Saturday as part of its first season in the SFL. Thursday's first draws are 5:30 p.m. for JV, 7:15 p.m. for varsity.
St. Francis junior varsity opened the doubleheader with a 6-4 loss to the Thunder, valiantly battling back from a 5-0 deficit early in the third quarter. Sophomore Lucia Shepard made her Troubie debut with three straight goals: an interception and crease roll at 5:33 in the third, off a ground ball pickup less than a minute later, then another roll in the final minute of the game.
Akira Feguis put the jayvees on the board earlier in the third. Sophomore Taylor Crotsley missed on an eight-meter chance, but Feguis won possession behind the cage and came up with the second-chance finish.
Goalkeepers Angela Miles and Claire Gabri posted save totals of three and six, respectively. Gabri, who emerged into the position a year ago, surrendered a goal just 25 seconds after the halftime break but then halted six shots down the stretch to give her team a chance to rally back into contention.
St. Francis heads to Folsom on Thursday then Oak Ridge on Saturday as part of its first season in the SFL. Thursday's first draws are 5:30 p.m. for JV, 7:15 p.m. for varsity.
