SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The three St. Francis High soccer teams won three games against Rio Americano by a combined score of 16-2 in two different locations to kick off the 2021-22 season. The varsity squad defeated the Raiders by a 7-1 final, then the Troubadours' JV Gold team blanked Rio, 5-0, at nearby Cristo Rey High School. Meanwhile, back on the home campus, the SFHS JV Red beat Rio by a 4-1 margin.
Wednesday's action also launched the seventh season under head varsity head coach Maryclaire Robinson, who guided the program to its 14th Sac-Joaquin Section championship back in 2020.
Robinson was pleased with her team's effort, especially since she operated with a shallow bench. Five of her players are still competing for their local clubs and are not eligible to rejoin varsity action until those seasons are over. As a result, she has had just three full training sessions in the preseason leading into the opener.
"We had five players going to Tennessee this weekend, so we had two subs. The whole theme was simplicity – how simple can we be and how well can we communicate," said Robinson. "We're not played in and we don't have the luxury of being jelled. So we kept it simple and got rid of the complicated stuff. We're not there yet. And it worked out amazing well, which is a tribute to the players that we have."
Robinson also credited the team's leadership. "We need good leadership on the field, and they stepped up. That was really fun to watch."
Junior Jaycee DeFazio led the varsity scoring onslaught with two goals and two assists. Micaela Romo also posted a brace for the Troubies, while Caroline Murdoch and Sofia Flores each netted one goal. Besides the two from DeFazio, Elizabeth Barger, Caroline Murdoch, Madeline Welch, Laila Hadid and Flores had assists.
"Caroline Murdoch's goal was crazy, and Jaycee DeFazio was just shredding people. We played a quality opponent and we were successful," Robinson said.
Murdoch assisted DeFazio's goal in the 15th minute, then scored one of her own seven minutes later to ignite a 3-0 start for St. Francis. Rio managed to gain a goal back with seven minutes left before the halftime break, but the Troubies continued to pile up scores in the second half: Flores in the 55th, DeFazio in the 65th, then Romo's pair down the stretch.
Then in the nightcap at Cristo Rey, strikers Becca Weil and Caitlin Hafenstein each scored braces to lead JV Gold to its 5-0 victory. Alina Uriarte also found the back of the net in the shutout win. The JV Red had two goals from midfielder Abby Clark. Giuiana Del Guerra tallied both a goal and an assist, while Olivia Hamm accounted for the additional tally in the 4-1 win. Sofia Rabinovitz earned a pair of assists – one to Hamm in the 44th, and the second to Clark in the final minute of the game. Maggie Buffleben logged five saves in front of the frame.
Friday's varsity home game with Vista Del Lago has been canceled, meaning the Troubies' elder squad does not play again at home until December 14. They will compete at Franklin (Dec. 7) and Cosumnes Oaks (Dec. 9) to begin their Delta League season. The two JV squads head to Manteca for a two-day tournament. Pairings and game times have yet to be announced. Check back at GoTroubies.com for updates.
