SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Ryleigh Bone scored three goals and junior goalie Maddie Merwin made two crucial saves in the final minute as St. Francis prevailed 14-13 over Palo Alto Saturday at Mather Sports Center.

“I think we did well,” said Bone. “We tried to spread it out and pass it around. Their defense is pretty good. We took advantage of opportunities to cut in and get the ball.”

The Troubadours opened the game building an 8-1 lead, scoring all eight goals after Palo Alto had netted the first goal of the game, Colleen McClain and Bone each scored twice during the run and Meg Anderson, Sarah Westover, Emily Bush and Hailey Kusserow added single goals.

Palo Alto closed the gap to 9-5 at the half and opened the second half with three unanswered goals to pull within one at 9-8.

Erika Palmer extended the lead to 10-8 but Palo Alto tied the game at 10. But the Troubies never relinquished the lead, getting goals from Jane Sadler, Kusserow, Maggie Anderson and Bone to build a 14-11 advantage.

“It was stressful,” said Bone. We believed we could push through and get the win.”

Palo Alto scored twice to get the score to 14-13 but St. Francis held on despite the late flurry.

“Today was good,” said Merwin, who was recently named Student Body President for the 2014-15 school year. “It was better in the beginning but we kinda lost it in the middle and we had to reevaluate ourselves. We really felt the pressure at the end but we brought it together.”

Merwin, who made 15 saves in the contest, stopped two late shots as St. Francis held on for the win.

“Our Achilles heel has been getting the draw,” said Head Coach Kristy Wilson. “It hurts us but it helps us. If we get it, we can usually score off it every time. The problem is we do not get it very often and the draw control is the biggest indicator of who is going to win the game.”

The Troubadours closed the week with a win after dropping two contests earlier in the week. St. Francis lost to Novato 19-8 on Tuesday and Foothill Pleasonton 18-13 Friday night.

“We need to settle more on attack and we need to practice on how to settle,” said Wilson. “Cal High is going to come at us with very high double team pressure almost guaranteed. They have some strong attackers and midfielder players as well. If we can keep our cool and move the ball, we will be good.”

St. Francis hosts California on Tuesday with the JV and varsity teams meeting at 5:30 and 7 p.m., respectively at Mather Sports Center.

SF – Bone 3, Me. Anderson 2, Kusserow 2, McClain 2, Westover, Sadler, Palmer, Ma. Anderson, Bush. PA – Drez 7, Benatar 2, Chevallier, Peery, Peeps, Destefano.

N – Weidner 7, Level 5, Figone 2, Buckley 2, Williams, Gamble, Bolton. SF – Kusserow 3, McClain 2, Palmer, Bonini, Bush.

SF – Kusserow 4, McClain 4, Palmer 2, Bonini 2, Carpenter. F – Casad 4, Kail 4, Amonino 3, Brown 3, Betterncourt 2, Garcia, Ehlert.