SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Ella Crisologo played a cross-cage pass to junior Caitlin Hafenstein near the right post of the cage, resulting in the game-winning goal in the 78th minute, lifting St. Francis to a 3-2 win over Vista Del Lago in the varsity nightcap of a girls' prep soccer doubleheader at Cristo Rey High School Tuesday night.
The Troubadours remain undefeated with a 4-0-1 overall record. The Eagles, last year's Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champions, open their season at 0-1.
Seniors Michaela Romo and Madeline Welch also scored goals, both on assists from senior Jaycee DeFazio. Romo broke up 21 minutes of scoreless ball by taking a through ball from DeFazio, then advancing straight to the cage along the left sideline. DeFazio came through again in the 48th, finding Welch on the left side of the box to double the Troubie lead to 2-0. However, VDL responded with goals in the 49th and again in the 73rd to tie the proceedings at 2-2.
Renee Davis, who scored that equalizer off a throw-in, nearly hit a go-ahead goal two minutes later. She launched a free kick toward the top shelf, only to have Troubie senior goalkeeper Isabella De La Cruz leap up and punch the missile over the top of the crossbar. The Eagles also had a corner kick for another opportunity to claim the lead, but the SF defense thwarted the chance.
Finally, in the 78th minute, Crisologo outmaneuvered two Vista defenders along the left side of the field. She moved in behind, then from the corner of the penalty box, lifted a perfectly placed cross to Hafenstein, who beat Eagle Siena Smith for a "chest-in" shot by the post.
Tuesday's contest also marked the first time that St. Francis played with a full roster, having operated without several of its ECNL-member players during last week's action at the Rocklin Invite. In fact, nearly all players involved in the three goals – DeFazio, Romo, Welch and Crisologo – made their 2022-23 debuts in this home opener.
The SF varsity victory followed a more lopsided affair in the opener, as the Troubie JV Gold squad dispatched VDL by a final of 7-1. Sofia Rabinovitz led the offense with two goals and two assists, while Miley Brough notched her third brace of the season.
Oddly, the Eagles' JV and varsity teams each scored their first goals in the wake of great saves by Troubie goalkeepers. In the JV contest, with St. Francis already leading 3-0, VDL sophomore Katharine Horton's penalty kick was stuffed by junior keeper Maggie Buffleben in the 32nd minute. Unfortunately for Buffleben, the ball rolled toward the opposite side of cage of her save, and Horton sent it in to break up the shutout.
Likewise, the VDL varsity scored its first goal as a result of a key save on a set piece. Davis fired a shot toward the left side of frame, which De La Cruz dutifully stopped. But Eagle sophomore Taylor Grover collected the loose ball and sent it into the net in the 49th, cutting her team's deficit to 2-1.
St. Francis JV Gold and varsity teams travel outside of the section for a visit to Archbishop Mitty on Saturday. The two JV teams play the opener at 10 a.m., with the varsity at noon. Coincidentally, the Monarchs' last game was also against Vista Del Lago: the Eagles eliminated Mitty from the CIF NorCal Division II tournament back on March 1.
IMPORTANT: Please note the starting times at Mitty as 10 a.m. for JV, noon for varsity... These have changed numerous times in the last week, meaning previous schedules may list them differently.
