SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Abbey Pavelchik and sophomore Monet Zauner combined for 16 deflaggings and three interceptions while Natalia Zitelli's 30-yard end run stood up as the lone score in St. Francis' 6-0 win over Pleasant Grove in a non-league girls' flag football contest Tuesday evening.

The Troubadours, who entered the week ranked No. 2 in the Sac-Joaquin Section by MaxPreps, remains undefeated at 9-0.

Pavelchik had the first SF interception of the game, stopping the third straight Eagle red-zone opportunity with under nine minutes left in the second. Zauner nabbed her first in the final minute before halftime on a third-and-long, then came up with her second pick of the game – and team-leading 11th of the year – early in the fourth.

Zitelli's touchdown came not courtesy of a turnover on downs nor an interception, but rather an errant punt. With 3:50 remaining in the second quarter, PG's punt shanked hard right and sailed out of bounds at its own 30-yard line. This game St. Francis one of its better field positions of the contest. On the first play from scrimmage, Zitelli took the ball nearly untouched for 30 yards, completing her ninth rushing touchdown of the young season.

That lone scoring drive held up the rest of the way. Zauner's pick interrupted the next PG series. Pavelchik one of her seven stops to halt the Eagles on downs to start the third, then a Holland Sperber swatted pass helped the Troubies defend another red-zone chance later in the frame. The second Zauner INT gave the Troubies possession with 7:15 in the fourth, although credit Eagle sophomore Natalie Gatei for intercepting the first pass on the next series.

PG proceeded to give up the ball on downs in each of its last two possessions down the stretch, with Sperber coming up with a sack with a minute left.  
Offensively, Tayli Paeu-Lindgren had four catches for 39 yards while Annie Swanson and Nevaeh Gavino each collected three passes. However, the strangest reception came from its sender: with four minutes left in the game, Jade Abalateo had her own pass swatted right back at her. She ended up advancing for a few yards, although PG managed to stop the SF run game and force a punt.

Tuesday's action was a varsity-only contest. Both Troubie squads return to action on Wednesday in a home doubleheader against Cordova. JV kicks off at 4 p.m. with varsity following at 5 p.m.