CARMICHAEL, Calif. – Sophomore center Abigail Benavidez and senior utility Gauri Mathrakott shot a combined 13-for-13, leading St. Francis to a 20-3 win over Franklin in a Delta League girls' high school water polo game at Jesuit Pool Tuesday afternoon.
The Troubadours improve to 7-6 overall and open conference play at 1-0.
Benavidez, better known by the nickname "Ash," scored seven goals with three assists and four steals, setting career highs in each category. Mathrakott netted six goals for her ninth overall hat trick and second double hat trick of the year. Ava Stimson added three goals, Miranda Ferguson added two, while Piper Brostrom and LK Holliday each had one to complete the Troubies' offensive totals. Holliday also had a team-leading four assists, including three in the opening quarter.
Mathrakott scored the first four goals of the game, propelling St. Francis to a 12-0 halftime lead and an overall run of 16 unanswered that lasted until the 4:21 mark in the third quarter. Coaches Alex Hoang and Kate Watley called off the press from the more veteran Troubies at that point, which allowed the Wildcats to challenge the SF cage. Franklin managed two goals but also opened the door for three of Sophia Santsche-Chavez' four total saves in the final 12 minutes of play.
St. Francis also totaled 21 steals in the game, including three by Ferguson. The contest also saw starting roles and/or significant playing time passed along to Maren Foster, Reese Hughes and Lydia Vlahos, who collectively had four assists and four steals in response.
The Troubies remain at "home" for one more game: Tuesday's Senior Night contest against Rio Americano. The SF Boosters will also hold their water polo Booster-Q on that evening. The junior varsity plays at 7 p.m., the varsity at 8 p.m., with a Senior Night ceremony in between. Tickets are available now on GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/events/655071?schoolId=CA22554.
