Posted: Jan 06, 2026
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis outshot its guest by a margin of 19 to 4 but a Wildcat goal in the wake of a free kick during the 16th minute held up in a 1-0 loss to Whitney in the varsity portion of a Sierra Foothill League girls' soccer tripleheader at Cristo Rey High School's Adamson Family Sports Complex Tuesday night.
The Troubadours slip to 8-3 for the year and even their league record to 2-2. The Wildcats remain undefeated at 4-0-3 with seven shutouts, still not allowing a goal against this season.
St. Francis controlled possession for the majority of the contest, managing five shots in the first eight minutes but coming up empty. Whitney then earned a free kick near the center circle, with Camila Irizarry sending a ball into the penalty area that made its way to fellow senior Nina Souto, who delivered the goal.
The Troubies continued to threaten in the late stages of the first half, with Wildcat goalkeeper Ava Spurling stopping two shots, including a save against SF senior Miley Blough on a long free kick. Junior Norah White repeatedly gave the Troubies opportunities in the second half, with Blough firing six more times after the break. Another set play set up an apparent equalizer for senior Marissa Ow, but the Saint Mary's commit was ruled offsides.
Spurling made a lunging save against Blough during the second-half flurry, and Lily Hall swooped in for the follow-up, only for that shot to miss slightly high of frame. White had a shot of her own turned back soon after, while Holland Sperber had a near miss in the 72nd minute.
In fact, all three St. Francis squads surrendered an early Whitney goal in their respective games. JV Red gave up a goal from sophomore Mitzi Reyes Gutierrez in the seventh minute, and fell to a similar 1-0 final as varsity despite facing 15 Wildcat shots in the second half.
The Troubadours slip to 8-3 for the year and even their league record to 2-2. The Wildcats remain undefeated at 4-0-3 with seven shutouts, still not allowing a goal against this season.
St. Francis controlled possession for the majority of the contest, managing five shots in the first eight minutes but coming up empty. Whitney then earned a free kick near the center circle, with Camila Irizarry sending a ball into the penalty area that made its way to fellow senior Nina Souto, who delivered the goal.
The Troubies continued to threaten in the late stages of the first half, with Wildcat goalkeeper Ava Spurling stopping two shots, including a save against SF senior Miley Blough on a long free kick. Junior Norah White repeatedly gave the Troubies opportunities in the second half, with Blough firing six more times after the break. Another set play set up an apparent equalizer for senior Marissa Ow, but the Saint Mary's commit was ruled offsides.
Spurling made a lunging save against Blough during the second-half flurry, and Lily Hall swooped in for the follow-up, only for that shot to miss slightly high of frame. White had a shot of her own turned back soon after, while Holland Sperber had a near miss in the 72nd minute.
In fact, all three St. Francis squads surrendered an early Whitney goal in their respective games. JV Red gave up a goal from sophomore Mitzi Reyes Gutierrez in the seventh minute, and fell to a similar 1-0 final as varsity despite facing 15 Wildcat shots in the second half.
The Troubies' JV Gold also gave up a goal on a set piece in the finale, with Julia Ralls drawing a foul and converting her own free kick in the 17th. However, that game stood in contrast from Red and varsity before it: Sophia Kennedy-Contreras tied the game on a counterattack in the 59th minute, then Gabby Federico set up the game-winner with just 10 seconds remaining. She served a long ball into the box that glanced off Andrea Silva before Hazel Pryor knocked it into the cage.
St. Francis concludes its three-match homestand on Thursday for another SFL tripleheader against Del Oro. As per the league format, JV Gold will lead off the set at 3:30 p.m., varsity follows at 5:30 p.m., then JV Red plays the nightcap starting at 7:15.
