SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Defender Eva Battle and forward Giuliana Del Guerra scored in each half for the Troubadours but St. Francis allowed its first goals in three games in falling 5-2 to undefeated Oak Ridge in junior varsity girls' soccer action at SFHS' campus field Tuesday afternoon.
The Troubies slip to 12-3-1 for the season, suffering their first loss since a previous home meeting to the Trojans on January 6. They previously blanked Rocklin, Inderkum and Rio Americano during the previous two weeks.
St. Francis drew first blood in the fourth minute, as Battle fielded a cross from Jada Dwyre near the far left corner, then blasted in a shot from 20 yards out. However, Oak Ridge answered with four unanswered in the first half to craft a 4-1 lead at the break.
Del Guerra had a chance to cut into the deficit in the 57th but a Trojan defender came up with a sliding stop near the left post. Instead, Del Guerra scored her goal 12 minutes later, firing from the left side of the penalty area to bring the score to 4-2. The Trojans then added their fifth goal in the 75th minute.
Tuesday's high-scoring contest was the first played in front of a new scoreboard at the campus field. The board, adorned with the team motto "One Team, One Voice," was donated by head JV Red coach Rob Vela.
The JV Red crew returns to action on Friday in a rare home game at Cristo Rey High, where the St. Francis varsity and JV Gold teams play their home games. The younger Troubies will host the Rocklin frosh team as a lead-in to the Holy Cup matchup with Christian Brothers that night.
CORRECTION: The previous version of this story credited Matea Avery for St. Francis' first-half goal... Battle made her season debut on Tuesday, having sat out most of the year due to injury.
NOTE: Friday's Holy Cup event will take place in front of limited spectators... Players on each team will be permitted two tickets, with the exception of the Troubie seniors, who will get up to four (4) family members on the gate list for Senior Day... more details are available at GoTroubies.com.
