GRANITE BAY, Calif. – Sophomore center Abigail Benavidez scored a hat trick while seniors Gauri Mathrakott and LK Holliday each netted a goal, but St. Francis varsity came up short in a 10-5 loss to Granite Bay in girls' prep water polo action Tuesday evening.
The varsity setback was the opener of a doubleheader that concluded with the Troubadours' junior varsity falling by an 18-7 final in the nightcap.
Holliday also had two assists while Mathrakott chipped in three steals for SFHS in the varsity contest. Sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Santsche-Chavez tallied four saves in front of the cage. The Troubies battled to a 4-3 halftime deficit and matched the Grizzlies in the third to stay within a 6-5 hole. However, GB answered with four straight in the final quarter to pull away and seal the win.
Subsequently, the JV tilt took the opposite shape, with Granite Bay jumping out to a 7-0 lead through the first seven minutes and a 10-0 edge at the half. However, Havana Sperber scored three goals in the fourth quarter, Reese Hughes added two of her own in the finale, while Addison Hutchcraft found the back of the net in each of the third and fourth. In all, St. Francis played almost even ball with its host after the break.
Lucy Nihart scored six goals for GB in the JV game. No opponent statistics were available from the varsity contest. This is the second time in just four days that the younger Troubie squad faced the Grizzlies, as the two met at the CK McClatchy JV Season Opener last Saturday.
The St. Francis jayvees will return to Granite Bay for a two-day tournament this Friday and Saturday, while the varsity has a week-long layoff before heading to Bella Vista on September 21.
