SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Ava Larkin assisted goals by Isabella Brenes and Evelyn McNearney while freshman Gianna Barnes scored on a free kick on the opposite end, but St. Francis JV Red could not protect a 3-1 halftime lead, settling for a 3-3 draw against West Park in girls' frosh-soph soccer action at Cristo Rey High Friday night.
This marks the second tie for the Troubadours on back-to-back Fridays, both against the Panthers. SF moves to 5-10-2 for the season.
Sophomore Anastasia Douglas scored all three goals for WP. She put her team up to an initial lead by converting a Malinda Moran assist in the third minute, then found the back of the net in the 46th and 61st to tie the proceedings.
Brenesm, who joined the program earlier in January, equalized the game with a finish on Larkin's cross from the left flank. Eliza Hurley had the initial pass into the attacking end, setting up the score in the 16th. Then roughly a minute later, Barnes drew a foul just outside the right edge of the penalty box. Despite the tough angle, the freshman lofted a ball that glanced off the glove of the Panthers' keeper and into the cage.
McNearney extended the lead to 3-1, thanks to a long negative ball from Larkin in the left corner. The Troubies enjoyed additional chances to add to the margin before the break: Barnes delivered a cross that landed just out of reach of Ava Winberry in the 32nd, then WP defender Kailee Fisher blocked a shot by Trinity Ito in the 39th.
Even after Douglas tied the game with her hat trick goal, St. Francis continued to threaten to regain the lead. Barnes had a shot saved, and Annika Rose had an attempt deflected by Moran down the stretch. Kaitlen Takeuchi, who guarded the SF goal for the entire first half and the final 20 minutes of the second, came up with a save of her own in the 78th.
JV Red returns to action on Saturday morning with a 10 a.m. home game against River City, a lead-in to the JV Gold and varsity "Holy Cup" doubleheader against Christian Brothers. All three games take place at CRHSS' Adamson Family Sports Complex.
