ELK GROVE, Calif. – Senior Mia Barsotti scored on a putback of a Caitlin Hafenstein shot in the sixth minute of play, but Franklin followed with two goals in the next 10 minutes as St. Francis fell to the host Wildcats by a 3-1 final in the varsity opener of Friday's Delta League girls' soccer doubleheader.

The Troubadours fall to 5-3 for the season and even their league record to 1-1. The Wildcats, winners of last year's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title, remain unbeaten at 5-0-2.

Franklin wiped clean the SF lead with a goal in the 12th minute, then proceeded to tack on goals in each half on set pieces: a free kick in the 16th minute and a corner kick in the 56th. Friday's setback marks St. Francis' first in league play since a 3-2 against Davis in 2022. It is also the first in the series with Franklin since the COVID-shortened season in 2021.

The varsity win preceded a 1-1 tie for SF's Gold junior varsity squad. Sophomore Marissa Ow scored in the 57th minute to tie the contest, then came up with a key defensive play to protect the draw. Ow split two defenders on the left side of the penalty box, then sent a blast bar down over the head of Franklin keeper Jordyn Hultgren. Then in the 73rd, Ella Cochon – who scored the initial Wildcat goal in the 53rd – found herself in a one-on-nobody chance at the SF goal. Ow swooped in and relieved Cochon of a potential game-winner.

The varsity Troubies head to Stockton's Delta College for a one-day mini-tourney, in which they face Turlock (10:30 a.m.) and host Oakdale (2 p.m.). JV Red will wrap up action in Concord at the Cougar Classic tourney, with games against Monte Vista (11 a.m.) and host Carondelet (4 p.m.) on Saturday. The youngest Troubie squad lost, 2-1, to Berkeley's undefeated frosh squad in Friday's opener. No other details are available.

JV Gold returns to play as part of a split-site doubleheader against Rio Americano on Monday. The varsity plays at Rio at 3 p.m. but Gold hosts the Raiders for a 5 p.m. tilt at Cristo Rey.