St. Francis sophomore Liliana Whitmeyer accounted for three touchdowns, and the Sharks defeated Salinas 20-19 in Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division flag football action on Monday.
After trailing 13-0 in the first quarter, Whitmeyer scored a 14-yard rushing TD that gave St. Francis the lead with two minutes remaining in the contest.
“The whole team showed a lot of resilience being down early 13-0 in the first quarter,” said St. Francis head coach Frank Galvan. “The offense was struggling but then found their way and was able to score enough to get the win.”
Whitmeyer completed 20-of-31 pass attempts for 198 passing yards and one touchdown while tallying 42 rushing yards and two TDs on eight carries.
She also recorded one interception and three flag pulls on defense. Teammate Keira Grio came through with a pair of big defensive stops inside their own 8-yard line to secure the victory.
Grio finished with a team-best five flag pulls, and hauled in seven catches for 78 yards. Teammates Sophie Madrigal and Talia Moakler each recorded one interception.
Eden Findrick had six receptions for 62 yards, while Chanel Venter had a 13-yard TD reception for St. Francis.
The Sharks fell to Alisal, 38-31, in Gabilan play on Wednesday night, dropping them to 10-2 in league play this season.
Despite the loss, St. Francis is still in great shape to win the PCAL Gabilan Division with four games remaining.
Next up, the Sharks (17-4, 10-2) host Watsonville (7-10, 3-8) on Oct. 13 at 4pm.
Mariners remain unbeaten in SCCAL play: Aptos senior Ella Porter scored a pair of touchdowns, and the Mariners edged Santa Cruz, 14-6, in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action Wednesday night.
Porter also had seven flag pulls on defense, while teammate Ellie Marta finished with six for the Mariners, who remain undefeated at 5-0 in league play this season.
Myla Appleby had one sack for Aptos (6-4-1, 5-0), which hosts Palma (7-4, 6-4) on Saturday at 5pm.
Wildcatz go 2-2 at Harbor Passing Tourney: Watsonville fell to Las Lomas of Walnut Creek, 12-6, in the semifinals game at the Harbor Passing Tournament on Oct. 4.
The Wildcatz finished with a 2-2 overall record, including a pair of victories against Santa Cruz. Taylor Alves-Lopez had a total of 10 flag pulls and four sacks in both wins.
Alves-Lopez added her 30th and 31st sacks of the season in a 39-19 loss to Palma in PCAL Gabilan Division play Monday evening.
Next up, Watsonville (7-11, 3-9) hosts Sobrato of Morgan Hill on Saturday at 11:30am.
Girls golf
Mariners lose nail biter to Scotts Valley: Aptos’ Emily Fassio shot a 35 on the front six holes at Seascape Golf Club, and the Mariners fell, 205-207, to Scotts Valley in SCCAL play Tuesday afternoon.
Teammate Addy Burgess shot a 37, followed by Lemi Anastasopoulos (41), Dakota Bamford (46) and Emily Kniffin (48).
Next up, Aptos hosts Soquel in SCCAL play at Seascape Golf Club on Oct. 14 at 4:30pm.
Girls tennis
Mariners remain unbeaten in SCCAL play: Aptos improved to 5-0 in SCCAL play following a sweeping 7-0 victory over San Lorenzo Valley on Tuesday.
Coral Collins, Isabella Calderon, Gia Arista and Charlotte Long each won their singles matches by default for the Mariners.
In doubles action, Aptos’ Neci Hoeptner and Julia Blevins defeated Isla Borthwich and Cassidy Collier in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1.
Natalia Calderon and Kate Deteso won at No. 2 in straight sets, while Elana Ramirez and Sydney Ayala were victorious at No. 3.
Aptos (5-2, 5-0) plays at Scotts Valley in SCCAL action on Oct. 14 at 4pm.
Mustangs drop first PCAL game of season: Monte Vista Christian sophomore Sofia Moore won her singles match in straight sets, and the Mustangs fell to the Vikings, 4-3, in PCAL Mission Division action Tuesday afternoon.
Moore defeated Shamara Resendiz-Blas 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1. The Mustangs dropped the remaining three singles matches, and won two out of three doubles matches.
MVC (7-2, 7-1) plays at Gonzales in PCAL Mission play on Oct. 14 at 4pm.
Girls volleyball
Mariners take down Soquel: Aptos junior outside hitter Ella Dueck had a team-best 19 kills, and the Mariners defeated the Knights in four sets 24-26, 25-10, 25-22, 25-18 in SCCAL play Tuesday night.
Dueck added three aces and a pair of blocks, while teammate senior Kenzie Smith had 15 kills and two aces.
“Our captains Kenzie and Ella played excellent volleyball from the left side pin tonight,” said Aptos head coach Hunter Zeng in an email. “[It was] made possible by strong setting from Cana and Mady.”
Aptos freshman setter Cana Taylor had 18 assists and five digs, while teammate sophomore Caitlin Lavelle contributed six kills, six blocks and one ace.
In her first start of the season, junior Elle Mumford contributed six aces, five assists and six digs for Aptos, which improved to 4-4 in league play this season.
“Slowing down Soquel’s offense wasn’t easy but our block-defense connection worked well and our service pressure knocked them out of system with consistency,” Zeng said.
Aptos (10-9, 4-4) hosts Santa Cruz in SCCAL play on Oct. 14 at 6:30pm.
Sharks extend win streak to seven: St. Francis senior outside hitter Julie Lopez had a team-best 16 kills, and the Sharks defeated North Monterey County in five sets 26-24, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 15-9 in PCAL Cypress Division play Wednesday.
Lopez also finished with seven aces, while teammate senior Peyton Orradre tallied 13 kills and 17 digs. Senior setter Georgia Otzman finished with 33 assists and two blocks.
Ella Dewig, a junior, had four blocks and four kills for St. Francis, which improved to 7-1 in league play and owns a 13-3 overall record this season.
Orradre had 18 kills for the Sharks en route to a five-set victory over the Pajaro Valley in PCAL Cypress Division play Monday. Otzman finished with 34 assists and five setter dumps.
Next up, St. Francis (13-3, 7-1) has a pair of games on the road starting with Pacific Collegiate on Oct. 14, and Rancho San Juan on Oct. 16. Both matches are slated to begin at 6pm.
Girls water polo
Aptos 7, Santa Cruz 4: Aptos senior Madi Knudsen had a team-best three goals, and the Mariners defeated the Cardinals in SCCAL play Wednesday evening.
Rylie Knudsen finished with a pair of goals and one assist, while teammates Adeladie Friedley and Rose Lockwood each contributed one goal.
Mary Suarez-Abraham tallied 16 saves to go along with one assist and one steal for Aptos (7-5, 2-1), which plays at San Lorenzo Valley in league play on Oct. 15 at 6:30pm.
