MICHAEL KIRAL

LAPLACE – Jessica Jones and Jennifer Bishop scored in the first half and St. Charles Catholic held off numerous second half charges by Ecole Classique as the Lady Comets defeated the Lady Spartans, 2-0, at Thomas Dupuy Stadium Saturday afternoon. St. Charles Catholic, coming off a 2-1 victory at E.D. White Wednesday, improved to 6-5-1 overall and 2-4 in District 7-II. The Lady Comets controlled the opening minutes of the first half as Jessica Goloforo sailed a shot wide, then had another shot on goal deflected away. An indirect kick by Jones from the right side was also deflected away 11 minutes into the contest. Ecole Classique had its first scoring opportunity two minutes later as Emily Franks knocked in a shot from the left side that was deflected away by Lady Comet goalie Jennifer Denoux. On the Lady Comets’ next possession, Jones sent a pass ahead to Bishop. Bishop moved into the left side of the box and angled a shot into the right side of the net, giving the Lady Comets a 1-0 lead at the 16-minute mark. St. Charles Catholic continued to apply pressure as Jones’ direct kick was knocked down in front by Tiffany Wild. Jones got the ball back to the left of the net and sent a shot that went across the crease, off a Ecole Classique defender and into the net, making it 2-0 at the 17-minutes mark. The Lady Spartans had a chance to get on the scoreboard at the 21-minute mark as Franks put in a shot that was knocked down by Denoux. Jones took possession of the goal kick, moved down the field along the right side, cut in, got past the goalie but had her shot deflected away by Omi Moradel at the 24-minute mark. Shots by Jones off a pass by Nicole Stuart and one by Goloforo off a pass by Maria Abbate were also denied over the next four minutes. Ecole Classique got the final opportunities of the half as Franks charged in over midfield but had her shot from the left side sail wide. Tara Cortez then tried a shot that was grabbed by Denoux on the left side with a minute left in the half. St. Charles Catholic opened the second half with a shot by Jessica Himel that sailed wide. Kristin Peranio then tried a shot that was deflected out to Himel whose shot was deflected away. Ecole Classique applied the pressure for much of the half. Wild had the first shot but had her attempt from the left side hit the side of the net. Moradel then sent in a shot that was grabbed on a bounce by Denoux. Denoux grabbed another shot by Franks at the 21-minute mark of the half. St. Charles Catholic had an opportunity to add to the lead at the 25-minute mark but Jones had her shot from in front deflected away. A shot by Franks from the right side hit the side of the net at the 31-minute mark. Michelle Brown followed with a shot from the left side that sailed wide left. Two minutes later, Brown had another shot knocked down. Brown chased down the rebound and centered a pass to Franks whose shot was deflected away by a diving Denoux at the 36-minute mark. “We’ve gotten everybody back healthy,” St. Charles Catholic head coach Norman Brignac said. “Denoux did a good job and it helps when you can keep the ball in your side of the field. We’re finally playing aggressively. The last few games we have really quit worrying about being pushed around and going after the ball.” Denoux and Chrissy Haidle were named the top defenders for the Lady Comets. St. Charles Catholic closes out its season at Country Day today.