FAIRFIELD, Calif. – Junior Sydney Altobell found the perfect time to record her first goal of the season to lead No. 5 seed St. Francis to a 1-0 victory over No. 4 Armijo Thursday. The Troubadours advance to play No. 1 seed Davis Wednesday, May 13 at Davis.

Altobell broke a scoreless game with a left-footed strike from about 30-feet that cleared the Armijo goalie with about six minutes left in the first half. St. Francis (17-2-2) made it stand in posting their seventh consecutive shutout and 16th of the season.

“It was incredible and I am so ecstatic right now,” said Altobell after the game. “I was hoping for a cross and it went right over the goalie’s head. I was praying that it would go in. I was so happy.”

Altobell came in the game in the first half and made a big contribution, scoring on the winning goal on an assist from classmate Erin Barr.

“I am so glad I am helping my team and I love making runs,” said Altobell. “Knowing one paid off this far into playoffs in incredible.”

Altobell’s teammates were impressed with the goal.

“It was epic,” said senior Anna Gregg, who leads the team with 32 goals on the season. “She banged it into the side net. I just jumped in the air and it was one of the better feelings of the whole year.”

Allie Carmickle, who combined with Catie Brown for the shutout, said the bench erupted.

“It was like MLS style,” said Carmickle. “It was absolutely incredible. We were so excited.”

Armijo, which lost just once during the season, posed a formidable opponent for the Troubadours, who also eliminated the Indians last season. Both teams had scoring chances in the first half but the defenses settled to control the game. Brown stopped the best chance by Armijo early in the game.

“I saw it go over one of our defenders heads and knew I had to go out for it,” said Brown. “I took the best angle I could on the ball and got a touch on it and deflected it wide. That felt awesome especially at the beginning of the game. Being able to make that save and get the team pumped up a bit really helped our energy.”

The game ended after flurry in front of the St. Francis net and final corner kick that was finally controlled and knocked out of the area.

“It was incredible,” said Carmickle. “I feel that was the most heart we have played with all year. It maybe was not the most perfect performance but we had so much heart.”

Gregg, who found herself checked most of the game, still created opportunities.

 “They were one of the stronger opponents we have played,” said Gregg. “They spread the ball super wide so we were spread out. We kept it tight in the midfield and helped together. It was impressive. We did great.”

St. Francis, the defending section champion, will have to get by Davis for the chance to play for the section title this season, a team that has gone 17-1-1 and posted a 5-0 win over McClatchy on Thursday.

“It feels great,” said Gregg. “I just want to keep going one game at a time.”

St. Francis and Davis met two times during Delta League action with the Blue Devils winning 3-0 in Davis, their smallest margin of victory at home all season, while the Troubadours recorded a 2-2 tie at home against Davis while going undefeated at home (8-0-1).

 “Our defense has been awesome,” said Brown. “Addie and Serena are holding down the middle and they are really good at communicating and talking. We have some very fast outside backs so we have the outside and inside locked down really well. As long as we keep communicating and doing what we are doing, our back is going to stay really strong.”

GIRLS SOCCER - DIVISION I

Quarterfinals/Thursday
Davis Sr. 5, McClatchy 0
St. Francis 1, Armijo 0
Bella Vista 1, Gregori 0, OT
Franklin-EG 1, Granite Bay 0

Semifinals/Wednesday, May 13
#5 St. Francis at #1 Davis Sr.
#6 Bella Vista at #2 Franklin-EG