MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / January 20, 1999

METAIRIE – St. Charles Catholic coach Norman Brignac said before theComets game against Ecole Classique Saturday that the Spartans could not be taken lightly despite being winless in District 8-III play, especially on their home field.

Brignac noted that last year, the Spartans took the Comets into overtime at home and tied E.D. White, the only blemish on the Cardinals’ districtrecord in 1997.

Brignac’s prediction proved to be correct as the Spartans hung with St.

Charles Catholic until the Comets pulled away in the second half for a 4-0 victory. St. Charles Catholic improved to 5-4-1 overall and 2-1-1 inDistrict 8-III with the victory.

The Comets threatened early on as Christian Panquerne’s shot from the right side was grabbed by Spartan goalie Zack Luther at the two minute mark. Ecole Classique came back with Johnathon Reinhardt moving in andattempting a shot on goal that was grabbed by the Comets’ Kurt Biven.

At the 14-minute mark, Philip Hoffman tried a shot from the right side that sailed high. Allan Doubleday then attempted a free kick that wasknocked away in front of the goal.

St. Charles Catholic broke through at the 20 minute mark as Jason Brignaccentered a pass to Doubleday. Doubleday knocked it past Luther, giving theComets a 1-0 lead.

Brignac was tripped up in the box but had his penalty kick bounce right of the goal at the 25-minute mark. Five minutes later, Justin Chauvin’scentered a corner kick to Doubleday whose header went wide.

Ecole Classique then threatened as Chad Burkle took a centering pass and deflected to the left side of the net where Biven went to his knees to make the grab. Michael Federico then passed ahead to Reinhardt with Bivenagain making the save. The half ended with the Comets ahead 1-0.St. Charles Catholic put the pressure on as the second half opened.Hoffman hooked in a shot from the right that was grabbed by Luther at the two-minute mark. A minute later, Doubleday was fouled and given apenalty kick which he knocked into the left side of the net, increasing the lead to 2-0.

Ecole Classique came back as Reinhardt took a centering pass but had his shot sail wide right. Five minutes later, the Spartans again came in withPanquerne knocking away a centering pass. Sean Busenlener then tried ashot that sailed right.

St. Charles Catholic got back on the scoreboard as Brignac took a centeringpass, mishit it at first, chased it down and slid it into the left side of the net at the 21-minute mark.

The Comets then started putting their reserves in. Justin Chauvin passedthrough the crease from the right side. Clint Scroggs, playing in his thirdgame, took the pass on the left side and tapped it in, increasing the lead to 4-0 at the 32-minute mark.

Panquerne was named the top defender for the Comets. Luther received thehonors for Ecole Classique.

“We started playing out game better,” St. Charles Catholic coach AndyRoussel said of the Comets’ second-half outburst. “We started attackingthe ball. Once we got a couple of goals, we got our confidence back.”

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