STOCKTON, Calif. – A trio of juniors led St. Francis varsity to a 9-5 win over St. Mary's in the varsity matchup in a prep water polo quadrupleheader involving the Troubadours, Jesuit High and the host Rams at Cortopassi Aquatics Center Thursday night.
Piper Brostrom netted a game-high four goals, Abigail Benavidez added another two scores plus four assists, while goalie Sophia Santsche-Chavez blocked 13 shots and chipped in another two thefts in the win, which evens St. Francis' season record to 1-1.
The Troubies' victory is particularly impressive, given the Rams' program history. St. Mary's has ranked among the top five in the Sac-Joaquin Section for the three previous seasons, during which it won 25 of 26 Tri-City Athletic League titles and twice advanced to the SJS Division I semifinal round.
Brostrom scored one goal in each of the first two quarters, completed her hat trick in the third, then found the back of the net one more time in that third stanza. Benavidez scored both of her goals in the fourth. Havana Sperber, Ashlyn Brock and Reese Hughes also chipped in a goal each. Meanwhile, Santsche-Chavez had nine of her 13 saves after the break, helping the Troubies pull away from a close 4-3 halftime lead.
Earlier in the evening, St. Francis' junior varsity fell by a 13-8 final to the Rams. Frannie Wells scored five goals, including both scores at the 6-2 halftime break, while Sara Ellis performed all three of her goals in the second half. St. Mary's also enjoyed the advantage on 6-on-5 opportunities, converting 3 of 5 power plays compared to the Troubies 0-for-1.
The SF jayvees return to action on Saturday for the day-long CKM Opener at McClatchy, while varsity next plays as part of a doubleheader at Granite Bay on Tuesday.
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