SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore attacker Ava Larkin her first goals of the season to propel her team to a 3-1 halftime lead, but St. Francis JV Red surrendered three unanswered across a span of six minutes in the second half to fall, 5-4, to Oak Ridge Blue in girls' frosh-soph soccer action at SF's grass field Monday afternoon.
The Troubadours lose their fourth straight game to fall to 3-4 for the year.
Larkin put SF on the board with her drive up the left side of the field for a goal just 4:14 into the contest, marking the first goalie by the Red squad in more than three games. However, the Trojans equalized two minutes later: Presley Hawkey advanced toward the cage, drew Troubie goalkeeper Kaitlen Takeuchi to challenge her on that side, then fed to a wide-open Sophia Barbato for the finish.
Larkin then completed her first career brace thanks to Trinity Ito, who sent a ball through the defense toward the left flank. Ito took in the pass, moved inward, then fired in her shot to the top shelf in the 11th. Then in the 14th, it was another Ava who found the back of the net: Ava Winberry, who collected a Gianna Barnes throw-in and converted it to a tally on the board. St. Francis protected that lead for the rest of the half. Takeuchi notched three saves, including a spectacular stop against Trinity Johnston in the 37th.
Unfortunately for the Troubies, the tide turned in favor of the all-frosh Trojans after the break. Milana Cissney drove untouched to the goalmouth to halve the lead to 3-2 in the 54th. Ito pushed the margin back to two goals when Liv Vasques-Martin found her in the center of the box on a corner kick in the 65th. Oak Ridge caught a break in the 68th when Momina Niazi's clear attempt caromed off a Trojan player and rolled over the goal line, but was ruled a corner kick. That turned into a Trojan goal and ignited a 3-0 comeback stretch over the next six minutes. Hawkey and Cissney each got behind the SF defense for easy goals in the 67th and 72nd minutes, respectively.
Second-half keeper Rose Buffleben stopped a shot by Barbato and corralled a long serve down the stretch but the Troubies could not manage a shot in the last 15 minutes.
Larkin's two goals are the first of her sophomore season, and match her total from her freshman year. Winberry's goal marked her third, tying for the team lead with Liv Vasques-Martin in seven games thus far. Ito's goal represents the first in just two attempts, as she plays a defensive role for JV Red.
All St. Francis teams return to action for a home tripleheader at Cristo Rey on Wednesday. JV Gold and varsity host Pleasant Grove for the Delta League opener at 4 and 6 p.m., respectively. JV Red will then host Folsom for a 7:30 nightcap. Wednesday's event serves as the annual Booster-Q for soccer, while it also features the annual toy drive for Stanford Settlement's Operation Cratchit. Fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for children ages 0-15.
