SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Havana Sperber amassed a total of 12 goals in three games, as St. Francis went 2-1 at the C.K. McClatchy JV Tournament Saturday. The Troubadours picked up an 8-1 win over Bella Vista in the opener, lost to Christian Brothers in a 7-6 battle, then finished the day with a 6-3 victory over Woodcreek.
SFHS improves to 11-9 for the season. This was the second of two JV-only tourneys hosted at McClatchy this season.
Sperber netted five goals with three steals in the early morning win over the Broncos, added two in the midday tilt with the Falcons, then closed out her day with another five in the nightcap. Freshman Frances Wells posted a hat trick against BV, while Miranda Ferguson matched that three-goal output against CB.
The Holy Water rematch with the Falcons proved to be the most contested game of the day, with the two teams battling to three ties. St. Francis erased a 3-1 deficit in the second quarter when Piper Brostrom assisted Ferguson on goals at the 3:19 and 1:37 marks, equalizing at 3-3. The Troubies then took their lone lead in the final minute before halftime, when Ferguson drew an exclusion at two meters, then promptly assisted Sperber on the opposite post.
However, CB piled up four goals in the third quarter. Angelina Rivera buried back-to-back shots from set in the opening 74 seconds, then Lana Lukins hit two more in the final minute of the stanza. Only a goal by Ferguson at 1:29 interrupted the offensive outburst on the scoresheet. The Falcons entered the fourth with a 7-5 lead. Brostrom cut into it with her goal on the opening possession, and nearly tied up the game shortly after but for a lunging save from the CB goalkeeper.
In contrast, it was St. Francis that pulled away in the third quarter against Woodcreek. Three scores broke open what had been a 2-2 tie at the break. Mary Margaret Ferrara added the sixth goal for the Troubies, while goalie Holland Sperber posted four saves against the three goals.
St. Francis returns to action on Tuesday for a recently added game against Ponderosa, held at Union Mine. The Troubies and Bruins originally intended a game on October 18, but neither program could host. However, a last-minute cancellation allowed the two teams to reinstate the matchup. Varsity plays at 6:15, while first sprint for JV is 7:15 p.m.
