RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Sophomore attacker Karly Okamoto netted four goals with five assists for a team-high nine points, while juniors Brynley Hodge and Jane Tattersall totaled nine goals between them, leading St. Francis to an 18-2 win over Del Oro in the varsity half of a girls' prep lacrosse doubleheader at Mather Sports Complex Thursday night.
The Troubadours' varsity win followed an 11-4 victory by the junior varsity, with sophomore Olivia Hamm leading the way with five goals. The two SF lacrosse teams kick off their seasons with 1-0 records.
Okamoto had four goals as part of her team's 13-2 first-half lead, including three in the final seven minutes before the break. Hodge completed her hat trick in that first half, then added goals in the 39th and 47th minutes en route to a team-leading five tallies. Tattersall also netted three goals as part of the first-half onslaught, then tacked on a fourth in the opening minutes of the second.
Tattersall was one of several Troubies enjoying varsity debuts. Freshman Keira Miles scored two of her team's first four goals, while adding an assist and team-best four ground balls. Another ninth grader, Sara Ellis, assisted Okamoto midway through the first half then converted a Zia Smith assist with just under five minutes left in the contest.
Finally, junior Havana Sperber played her first-ever lacrosse game at any level, notching a save in the first half. Additionally, one of the two DO goals that caught past her came on something of a fluke play: junior attacker Molly Brust accidentally directed an entry pass from Presley Macktinger into the SF cage with 8:26 left in the first. In all, St. Francis' defense helped Sperber's debut by allowing just five shots.
In Thursday's opener, the two jayvee teams agreed to a shortened, 50-minute game with a running clock to reduce exposure to the frigid temperatures. Hamm drove through for two goals in the first three minutes to kickstart a 5-1 start, then scattered three goals throughout the second half.
Olivia Alvernaz added two goals for the Troubie JV, while Zoe Smith, Brianna Akins, Gianna Erdmann and Chloe Tanner hit one apiece.
St. Francis returns to action for a varsity-only visit to Roseville on Tuesday, then both teams kick off Delta League play on March 3 at Davis. The league consists of Davis and SF, plus lacrosse associate members Vista Del Lago, Rio Americano and Bella Vista, as none of the Elk Grove schools sponsor girls' lacrosse.
