CONCORD, Calif. – Sophomore Sara Ellis scored 14 of her team's 18 goals as St. Francis' junior varsity water polo opened its 2023 season at Carondelet's Cougar Classic mini-tournament Friday and Saturday. The Troubadours dropped their Friday games to the host's frosh-soph team (15-6) and Sacred Heart (17-2), then finished the weekend with an overtime battle with St. Ignatius, ultimately falling by a 12-10 final.
Ellis, a SF lacrosse and soccer player, added water polo to her sport repertoire this fall. She completed a hat trick against the host Cougars in the tourney opener, had both Troubie goals in the nightcap loss to Sacred Heart, then performed a rare triple hat trick to close the weekend against SI.
Sophomore returners Frannie Wells and Charlotte Krause scored the remaining goals against Carondelet. Freshman Della Smith netted the 10th score against the Wildcats. Another freshman, Jayel Miller, made her goalie debut during the tourney. She posted 20 total goals for the weekend.
St. Francis overcame a 3-0 deficit in the first quarter to force overtime against SI, but was outscored 4-2 in the extra frames.
The Troubie jayvees return to action with their varsity sisters in a road doubleheader at Oak Ridge on Tuesday. Game times are 6 p.m. for varsity, 7 p.m. for JV.
