SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshmen Elizabeth McNearney, Charlotte Kryski and Liliana Hash each scored goals to lift St. Francis' Junior Varsity Red squad to a 3-1 victory over Inderkum in the team's home season opener at Adamson Family Sports Complex Monday afternoon.
The Troubadours even their record at 2-2.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie for the first 37 seconds, although St. Francis held a 4-0 shot advantage during that span with the help of a slight tailwind. Lauren Mikacich, on loan from the school's JV Gold squad, had two of those shots, with perhaps her team's best opportunity getting blocked by a Tiger defender.
With less than two minutes remaining, freshman forward Josie Quiniola drew a foul along the left side of the field, just beyond the center line. McNearney handled the ensuing kick, delivering it nearly 50 yards off the Inderkum goalkeeper's gloves and into the net.
The Troubies tripled their 1-0 halftime lead within the first seven minutes of the second half. Kryski served a long ball on frame that hopped over the Tiger keeper and into the cage in the 42nd. Then Paityn Lowery sent a cross from the far right corner to Hash dead center in the box. Hash had the finish for the team's third goal.
Now with the wind to its back, Inderkum managed numerous looks at the cage, but freshman keeper Xitlali Rosales made five saves while McNearney field blocked another. The lone Tiger goal came on almost accidental fashion: a Troubadour handball in the box, with Inderkum converting the penalty kick with 10 minutes remaining.
Monday's game was originally scheduled for the St. Francis campus field, but rainfall over the weekend and in the morning rendered the field unsafe. Instead, the contest moved to CRHSS and its artificial turf.
JV Red joins its older sisters on varsity and JV Gold for two home tripleheaders this week. Amidst their week of final examinations, the three squads kick off Sierra Foothill League play against Folsom (Tuesday) and Granite Bay (Thursday). The Tuesday SFL nights feature frosh-soph game at 3:30, varsity at 5:30 and junior varsity at 7:15. On Thursday, the schedule flips, with Gold opening at 3:30, varsity remaining at 5:30 and JV Red playing the nightcap at 7:15.
