Comets clinch spot in playoffs

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 31, 2001

MICHAEL KIRAL

LAPLACE – St. Charles Catholic didn’t pass up an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot against Ecole Classique Saturday afternoon at Thomas Dupuy Stadium. The Comets used a crisp passing game to set up two goals by Justin Chauvin and one by Philip Hoffman to defeat the Spartans, 3-1, in District 8-III play. St. Charles Catholic improved to 8-7 overall and 4-3 in district. The Comets, winners of four of their last five, clinched third place in the district and play at second place Country Day Friday. “We played well,” St. Charles Catholic head coach Earl Gervais, whose team was coming off a 2-1 victory at E.D. White Wednesday, said. “We had defeated them 3-0 at their place. We’ve finally found a group that plays well and we found it the first time we played over there. We moved the ball well and got it into a position to get shots.” St. Charles Catholic had its chances early on but shots by Travis Trepagnier and Steven Ramirez were grabbed by Ecole Classique goalie Zack Luther. After a shot by the Spartans’ Darian Blanchard was grabbed by Comet goalie David Leblanc, Chauvin took a pass from Ramirez and put a shot on that was snatched by Luther. The Spartans broke the stalemate at the 13-minute mark as Blanchard took a free kick from the left side and knocked it past a diving Leblanc, making it 1-0. The Comets had an opportunity to tie the game on their possession as Andrew Revall intercepted a pass in front of the net and took a shot that sailed wide left. A shot by Chauvin at the 17-minute mark also sailed wide. A minute later, Blanchard moved into the zone but had his attempt kicked away by a sliding Leblanc. St. Charles Catholic tied the game at the 22-minute mark as Hoffman sent in a kick from the left side from 45 yards out that bounced over Luther. Chauvin headed in the pass in front of the net, knotting the game at one. Chauvin had another opportunity at the 26-minute mark but had his shot deflected away by a diving Luther. Trepagnier followed with a shot that was hit the side of the net. Blanchard attempted another free kick at the 36-minute mark but had it grabbed by Leblanc. Two minutes later, it was Chauvin trying a shot from the left side that was grabbed by a diving Luther. The Comets finished with 11 shots in the half to the Spartans’ three. Revall opened the second half with a shot from the left side that sailed high. Ramirez followed with one in front but had it deflected wide right. Blanchard chipped in a corner kick for the Spartans at the seven-minute mark but had it deflected away in front of the net by John Howard. Chauvin centered a pass to Bret Deroche but Deroche had his attempt just miss the right side of the net. Revall followed with a kick from the right sideline that was grabbed by Luther. The Comets broke through for the go-ahead goal at the 22-minute mark as Chauvin was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. Chauvin knocked the shot in to the left of Luther, giving the Comets a 2-1 lead. St. Charles Catholic added an insurance goal at the 35-minute mark as Chauvin took a shot from the left sidelines from 40 yards out that found the top corner of the net, making it 3-1. St. Charles Catholic took 11 shots in the half while allowing Ecole Classique just two. Howard was named the Comets’ top defender after making two non-goalie saves.