SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Kendall Houck scored 16 goals over four games as St. Francis went 4-0 at the Grizzly Invitational over two days.
"We felt we did really well throughout the weekend and definitely improved," said junior Emma Johnson. "We learned how to adapt to the other team's defense and how to step it up on offense."
St. Francis (11-5) had their toughest test in the opener against Woodcreek, holding on for a 6-5 victory. Houck scored three times and junior Libby Slater added two goals with senior Caroline Wilkins adding a single goal. Claire McManus had nine saves in the cage.
The Troubadours jumped out on Encinal on Friday night, posting an 18-4 victory. SF led 5-0 at halftime and added nine goals in the third period. Eight different players scored in the game with Houck and Slater finding the cage four times each. Bella Vierra and Johnson scored twice, while Zoe Sloat, Riley Glenn Gauri Mathrakot and Emma Olver contributed to the win.
"We always try to control the ball and keep it as our game and how we want to play," said Johnson.
St. Francis continued the offensive outburst on Saturday, tallying double digit goals in a pair of wins over Palo Alto (16-4) and Clayton Valley (12-4).
Houck had four goals against Palo Also with Sloat adding three. Four players recorded two goals each in the win: Sarah Mudd, Slater, Vierra and Wilkins. Senior Alyssa Jacobsen also added a goal.
In the final Saturday afternoon, SF again was led by Houck with five goals and three by Sloat. Mudd, Slater, Wilkins and Johnson added goals.
St. Francis travels to Franklin on Tuesday afternoon for a Delta League matchup at 4:45 p.m. at Wackford Pool. The program will also host their Letters to Dad ceremony on Monday.
St. Francis 6, Whitney 5
SF – Houck 3, Slater 2, Wilkins.
St. Francis 18, Encinal 4
SF – Houck 4, Slater 4, Vierra 2, Johnson 2, Sloat, Glenn, Mathrakot, Olver.
St. Francis 16, Palo Alto 4
SF – Houck 4, Sloat 3, Mudd 2, Slater 2, Vierra 2, Wilkins 2, Jacobsen.
St. Francis 12, Clayton Valley 4
SF – Houck 5, Sloat 3, Mudd, Slater, Wilkins, Johnson.