SHINGLE SPRINGS, Calif. – Olivia Hamm and Abby Clark each scored goals as St. Francis' junior varsity Red wrapped up its 2021-22 season with a 2-2 tie at Ponderosa. The Troubies finish with a 13-3-3 overall record.
Hamm scored unassisted in the eighth minute, then Angelina Chavez assisted Clark for a goal in the 60th. Sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Buffleben protected the SF cage with six saves.
Meanwhile in Elk Grove, the SF varsity clinched the Delta League title with a 4-0 shutout over Pleasant Grove. Sophomore Yasmine Azar posted a goal and two assists in her varsity debut, while three of her teammates each logged a goal and assist. The Troubie varsity improves to 13-4-3 for the season and 8-2-1 in league play. The win increases SF's point standings to 25 – three points for each win, one for the tie – which mathematically clinches the program's second straight Delta League title and its 23rd all-time league crown.
Pleasant Grove entered the day in second place (19), with Elk Grove (18) and Davis (17) close behind. This was PG' final game of the regular season, while Elk Grove played at Franklin. Davis had a road game at Sheldon on Thursday with a home game with St. Francis remaining on the slate. However, the Troubies' win over the Wolfpack means the Blue Devils can only compile a maximum of 23 points in the final standings.
Mika Shinoda, Jaycee DeFazio and Micaela Romo each netted goals in the victory. Azar assisted Shinoda on the only score of the first half. Shinoda and Romo delivered to DeFazio in the second half. Later in the contest, Azar drove up the middle then played to Romo, who cut back and fired her shot inside the far post for the Troubies' third goal. Finally, St. Francis added a fourth thanks to a counter attack initiated by defender Laila Hadid. Hadid relayed to Romo, who then assisted Azar's goal.
Azar was one of two 10th graders to earn call-ups from St. Francis' junior varsity Gold squad to the varsity this week, along with forward Mia Barsotti. Romo (16), DeFazio (12) and Shinoda (10), while Azar previously led JV Gold in goals (16) and assists (8).
The SFHS varsity and JV Gold will finish their regular seasons with a road game against Davis, the date and time of which has yet to be finalized.
