BREAKING: St. Francis High School decisively defeated St. Ignatius 2-0 in a pivotal West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) match on Wednesday night in Mountain View, solidifying their grip on the league title. With this victory, the Lancers are on track for their fifth consecutive WCAL championship.
The Lancers, now boasting a record of 15-0-1 with 9-0-1 in league play, struck early with two quick goals from Maya Meltz and Mireille Del Santo. The win is crucial as they continue their quest for an undefeated season and head towards the Central Coast Section playoffs.
The match kicked off with immediate intensity. In just the ninth minute, Lancers’ Kendall Koury delivered a pinpoint cross that Meltz volleyed into the net, marking a strong start for St. Francis. Just two minutes later, Del Santo capitalized on a chaotic corner situation, scoring a second goal that put the Lancers firmly in control.
St. Ignatius, ranked 14-2-1 overall, faced an uphill battle after the early goals. Coach Daire O’Connor acknowledged the formidable performance of St. Francis, stating, “They were very motivated… We knew St. Francis was going to come out really strong.” Despite their efforts, the Wildcats managed only one shot on goal throughout the match, highlighting the Lancers’ dominant defense.
Coach Carlos Barboza praised his team’s focus and execution, particularly after the previous tie against St. Ignatius on January 17. He emphasized the importance of converting chances against a team that typically does not allow many. “We talked a lot about putting away our chances… and obviously they executed,” Barboza said.
Looking ahead, St. Francis is poised to secure the top seed in the upcoming playoffs, with two regular season games remaining. Their goal is clear: maintain their winning streak and head into the playoffs healthy. Barboza noted, “Goal No. 2 for us is to go into the playoffs healthy… we’re almost there.”
On the other hand, St. Ignatius is preparing for their playoff run, aiming to build momentum from their resilient performance this season. Coach O’Connor expressed confidence in his team’s spirit, stating, “They’re very connected with each other on and off the field… that’ll help us go deep in the playoffs.”
As both teams shift their focus to the playoffs, the impact of this match will resonate throughout the league. St. Francis continues to prove their dominance, while St. Ignatius seeks to regroup and refocus.
Stay tuned for further updates as the playoff picture becomes clearer in the coming weeks.
