ELK GROVE, Calif. – Sophomore Yasmin Azar posted a goal and two assists in her varsity debut while three teammates logged a goal and assist each, leading St. Francis to a 4-0 shutout over Pleasant Grove in Delta League girls' soccer action Thursday afternoon. The victory clinches a successful defense of the conference championship.
The Troubadours improve to 13-4-3 for the season and 8-2-1 in league play. The win increases their 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 Troubadours' JV Gold also played at PG simultaneously with varsity, matching their older sisters with a 4-0 win over the Wolfpack. Sophomore Piper Sherburne and junior Becca Weil each earned a goal and an assist in the victory.
Camdyn Zucker put the Troubies on the board from 20 yards out thanks to a negative pass from Sherburne. Sherburne then followed with a goal of her own, with Tacori Abril assisted on a corner kick. Weil assisted Jianna Reyes on SF's third goal then scored the fourth, finding the back of the net from 20 yards.
Meanwhile in Shingle Springs, the JV Red wrapped up its 2021-22 season with a 2-2 tie at Ponderosa. Olivia Hamm scored unassisted in the eighth minute, then Angelina Chavez assisted Abby Clark for a goal in the 60th. Sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Buffleben protected the SF cage with six saves.
JV Red finishes the year with a 13-3-3 overall record.
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.
