ROCKLIN, Calif. – Junior Sara Ellis set or tied career highs with three goals, four caused turnovers and five ground balls, propelling St. Francis to a 16-1 win over Rocklin in the varsity nightcap of a Sierra Foothill League girls' lacrosse doubleheader Thursday night.
The Troubadours improve to 6-2, both overall and in league play.
Ellis' hat trick matches the total she posted against Woodcreek to start her sophomore year, while the defensive total of four steals equals her performance in the March 18 win over Del Oro nine days earlier. Finally, her five ground balls eclipse her previous best of three, done six previous times.
Offensively, Karly Okamoto tallied seven total points on three goals and four assists, while Keira Miles posted four goals with an assist for five points. Olivia Hamm and Zia Smith also scored twice each, with Skye Smith and Chloe Tanner chipping in a goal apiece. On the defensive end, Hamm, Nevaeh Gavino and Sofia Rabinovitz each posted two caused turnovers, with sophomore Claire Gabri grabbing two saves.
Okamoto scored two of the game's' first four goals, then assisted Miles, Hamm and Hamm again in a span of 93 seconds to boost St. Francis to an opening 8-0 run. Kennedy Hall finally put Rocklin on the board with 2:29 left in the first quarter to spoil the shutout bid, but the Thunder only managed four shots – with two on goal – for the remainder of the contest.
St. Francis extended its lead to 14-1 at the halftime break before largely shutting down the scoring. Tanner got a chance to play in the attacking third in the second half, eventually driving the left side for a goal in the 33rd minute. Z. Smith buried the contest's final goal with a mere 16 seconds remaining – appropriately, on an Okamoto assist.
The varsity win followed a 10-10 draw for the Troubadour jayvees, with Lucia Shepard and Taylor Crotsley posting goal totals of five and three, respectively. Akira Feguis and Delaney McGahan accounted for the remaining scores, while Natalia Zitelli enjoyed a complete game of three caused turnovers, two ground balls, a draw control and an assist.
St. Francis returns home to host Folsom on Tuesday for continued SFL play. First draws are 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. at Mather Sports Complex.
