ELK GROVE, Calif. – Two Division I-bound seniors, Micaela Romo and Jaycee DeFazio, each scored goals in a 2-0 win over Elk Grove, capping a night of three overall St. Francis victories in two different cities Monday. The varsity shut out the Herd in the nightcap, the Troubadours' JV Gold blanked EG by a 9-0 final, while the younger JV Red turned back Davis in a 4-2 season finale back in Sacramento.
The SF remains undefeated with a 15-0-3 overall record and a 10-0-1 mark in league play. JV Gold extends its win streak to 15, improving to 18-1-0 for the year and 11-0 against Delta League foes. JV Red ends its 2022-23 season on a high note to finish at 12-3-3 overall.
Romo, a fall National Letter of Intent signee to Saint Mary's, ended more than 42 minutes of scoreless ball when she and DeFazio broke through for the game's first goal. DeFazio, who signed her NLI to Cal Poly in November, doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 58th. She collected a through pass from Jianna Reyes, dribbled into the box, then deposited a shot into the back of the net.
The Troubies managed numerous chances in each half, largely dominating possession for the entirety of the contest. However, EG is blessed with one of the area's top goalkeepers in senior Bella Ayers, who notched 12 saves in the contest. Ayers, the reigning Delta League Player of the Year, represents another D-I commit in the contest: she was one of 14 signees to the University of Houston during the fall and winter.
Elk Grove largely employed a bend-don't-break style of play, relying on Ayers. As such, the Herd only managed two shots on frame, both set pieces by junior Emma Wilson. Troubie senior goalkeeper Isabella De La Cruz posted saves on each to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
The varsity win followed JV Gold's second 9-0 victory of the season. Freshman Miley Blough posted two goals and an assist, while Chloe Rhodes-Nguyen and Sofia Rabinovitz each had a goal and an assist for two total points in the triumph. Sarah Bashore, Marissa Ow, Angelina Chavez, Alina Uriarte, as did goalkeeper Maggie Buffleben, who donned a field jersey for the second half.
Finally, back at Cristo Rey High, Holland Sperber and Penelope Cole each notched a brace in a 4-2 win over Davis for JV Red's season finale. Cole put the Troubies on the board in the sixth on a Brooke Larkin corner kick, then Sperber broke loose from two Blue Devil defenders in finding paydirt in the 29th.
Davis' answered in the 48th minute when Melia Ackerman sent a long free kick to a wide-open Linnea Pallin in front of the SF cage, but the Troubies got two goals back in the 61st and 63rd. Sara Ellis had the initial drive to the Devil goal but had her shot deflected outside the left post. Audrey Deelstra handled the corner kick and delivered to Cole dead center in front of the target for SF's third goal.
Cole then paid it forward, setting up Sperber for a 4-1 lead not two minutes later. The speedy Sperber, flanked by Deelstra and Abby Clark, outraced the Davis backfield before putting a left foot on a shot in the 63rd. That represents the 17th goal for the freshman attacker, matching the combined totals of JV Red's next three highest scorers: Cole (6), Ellis (6) and Mia Nelson (5).
Varsity and JV Gold return to action for the regular season finale against Davis on Wednesday. The varsity game will honor the program's senior players: DeFazio, Romo, De La Cruz, Brooke Castro, Sofia Ceballos, Ella Crisologo, Ava Hawkinson, Elise Thomas and Madeline Welch. The team will also recognize varsity manager Becca Weil, who was sidelined for her final year due to injury; and JV Red managers Julia Porter and Emily Lemes. In fact, Lemes was granted the honor of leading Red's final team cheer of the season at the end of halftime.
Wednesday's game times are 4 p.m. for varsity, 6 p.m. for JV Gold at Cristo Rey.
