Rocklin girls' soccer falls in section semis against Franklin

Despite holding a 1-0 lead after the first 60 minutes, the Rocklin High girls' soccer team lost 2-1 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals against Franklin High at home last Friday to end the season. The Franklin Wildcats scored two goals in the final 18 minutes of action, the first being a strike by junior Senai Rogers into the bottom corner in the 62nd minute. Brooke Waelbrock scored the game winner in the 79th minute for the Wildcats. Rocklin High maintained a majority of the possession in the first 60 minutes before the Wildcats began to apply pressure and started to become more aggressive in the attacking third. "We had two mental lapses and they capitalized and that is what good teams do," Thunder coach J.J. Barnette said. "We had our opportunities to put more goals in the back of the net and we didn't. I felt like our girls battled and that we were the better team for most of the night but they (Franklin) finished their chances." Thunder junior Nalani Damacion scored the lone goal for Rocklin High in the 37th minute. The Thunder finished with 11 shots and five on target while the Wildcats had seven shots and six on goal. Franklin High will advance to face McClatchy High in the championship game on Thursday, after press time, at Cosumnes River College. For the Thunder, the loss ends a season where they were the Sierra Foothill League champion for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Rocklin High were last-place in league competition last season. "It was such a great group of girls who worked hard day in and day out," Barnette said. "We preach family and I think that's why we were so successful this year. I couldn't be more proud." The Thunder have nine seniors graduating but will have talented players returning, such as Damacion, goalkeeper Shannon Porubski and many others. Whitney falls to St. Francis in semis The Whitney High Lady Wildcats won their first two playoff games against Cordova High and Rio Americano High before falling 2-0 against the St. Francis Troubadours last Friday. Yasmin Azar and Micaela Romo scored for the Troubadours in the contest. The Wildcats finished the season with a 11-6-8 record and were fourth-place in the Sierra Foothill League. They will be graduating six seniors but have players such as Lauren Hunter, Olivia Dewey and Lakelee Perkins, who can return next season. The trio combined for 13 goals this season. Lady Timberwolves' playoff hopes end with loss to Del Oro Woodcreek High entered the Division II playoffs as the number two seed and won its first two postseason games against Ceres High and Manteca High. Senior Lexi Schroeder scored a hat trick in the win over Ceres High while freshman Jocelyn Pearcy scored two goals against Manteca High. The Lady Timberwolves were once again unable to make it to the section title game as they were defeated 1-0 by Del Oro High last Friday night. The Golden Eagles scored their lone goal in the second half to clinch the victory. The loss for Woodcreek High was the only one during the season as they won the Capital Valley Conference and outscored their opponents 82-6. They will have nine seniors graduate, including Schroeder, Mia McSweeney and Sarah Granno.