SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis needed a second half comeback as the Troubadours posted a 3-1 victory over Christian Brothers in Holy Cup at Cristo Rey High School Saturday. The win marked the 10oth victory for Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson and capped an exciting day that featured a donation drive for St. John's Program for Real Change, a Booster Que and pregame recognition for the defending CIF Northern California champions.
"We were knocking on the door – we hit the post and had some chances," said Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson. "We were trying so hard in the first half that we were sabotaging ourselves and were maybe over excited. We talked about it at halftime, the players brought it up, and we have great fans and are very aware of momentum. It was can we just get one."
St. Francis (13-2-3) trailed 1-0 at the half after the Falcons scored on a nice header off a corner with three minutes left in the first half.
Junior Jane Gregory connected off a long free kick over the goalie to tie the game five minutes into the second half that charged the crowd.
"It started off our momentum," said junior Jane Gregory of her third goal of the season. "In the second half we knew we needed to get a goal and I think it set us off."
"Jane's first one was a breath of fresh air," said Robinson. "We kept pushing and pushing. Wow what a great goal."
The Troubadours, behind a standing room only crowd that was fueled by the St. Francis Booster Que, took the lead 10 minutes later on Jackie Stanco's 13th goal of the season that completed a charge from the back that started with Emma Noll passing to Sarah Yuke to Grace Barger and then Marli Berry provided the assist to Stanco.
Senior Taylor Earle scored for the second straight game to complete the scoring and give the Troubies a 3-1 lead in the 62nd minute of action. Yuke provided the assist.
"It felt so awesome and made it all the better with all the people that came out to cheer us on the whole game," said Earle. "The crowd really helped us out the whole game."
The win helped Robinson reach a milestone by recording her 100th career win in leading her alma mater.
"I knew it was coming but wins are hard to get," said Robinson. "It was worth the wait. Holy Cup is always super intense and really well played. CB is a great opponent and tot have it come today was pretty cool."
Robinson made a point to thank all the supporters from both teams that participated in the donation drive for St. John's Program for Real Change.
'It is one of the things I love," said Robinson. "St. John's Program for Real Change is really going to feel the positive impact from this community game. We are all local. I am really proud of the people that came out and donated. It is one of our best donation turns outs thus far."
The win also competed the sweep on the day as the JV Gold team posted a 4-1 win in the opener.
District 7 Assemblymen Kevin McCarty and his two daughters presented members of last year's team with a certificate recognizing their team CIF Northern California Regional Division II Regional title achievement.
