By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles soccer coach Don Peyton can already see a vast improvement in his players from a year ago. It manifested itself on Tuesday, as while the Comets fell 2-1 at Country Day, they went toe to toe with one of the top teams in the area.

“It was one of the most fast-paced games I’ve seen,” said Peyton. “Once we scored, it was bang-bang until the end.”

Reyna Lubin scored the Comets’ (1-2) lone goal.

Peyton credited goalkeeper Jenna Poche as a major contributor. Peyton says that Poche, in her first season as full-time goalkeeper, has shown great improvement from the team’s previous outing.

“In our second game (at St. Thomas Aquinas) she really had no confidence,” said Peyton. “Here though, after they scored the first goal, she came out in the second half like a completely new player. She made a couple really nice saves and blocks.

“Confidence makes a huge difference, and it has for her.”

The Comets improvement was immediately on display in the team’s opener last Wednesday, as they defeated McGehee 6-2.

McGehee had won the meeting between the teams’ last year, 3-1.

Reyna Lubin scored four goals. Jessica Rauch scored two.

“They beat us last season when we played, so this was a good win,” said Peyton.

He credits the team’s conditioning and attitude this year as being a major part of the improvement.

“Last year we started working with the girls a lot more on conditioning, and by mid-season, you could see their work paying off,” said Peyton. “The girls know what it takes to win now. The team atmosphere has changed, and they’re comfortable playing with one another.”

Last Saturday, St. Charles suffered its first loss of the season, falling to St. Thomas Aquinas 8-5.

Lubin scored three goals in the contest. Rauch and Kristina Brouwer each scored one.