By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles set up a do-or-die district clash with E.D. White on Friday by winning at district foe Riverside on Sunday afternoon, 10-1.

Reyna Lubin scored four goals and Brittni Landry scored three to lead the Comets (6-11-1, 2-1), who now must defeat E.D. White on Friday to force a potential district championship playoff match between the teams.

Last Tuesday, the Cardinals (8-6-1, 2-0) defeated the Comets 3-0 in the first meeting between the teams.

St. Charles scored its first goal at the seven minute mark and was able to build its lead from there.

“Riverside played us a bit differently this time,” said St. Charles Coach Don Peyton. “They played back on defense. We made a couple goals from the outside and made them come out on us.”

The adjustment St. Charles made to that defense was key, Peyton said, to a lesson he’s tried to impart in his team.

“I tell them that when they’re on the field, they have to see what the defense is doing and compensate for it,” said Peyton. “If they play us tight, shoot from far out. Take what they give you.

“It’s like you would in a basketball game. If they give you the 3-pointer, take it.”

Heidi Garcich scored the lone goal for the Rebels.

Peyton said that he wanted his team to play a slower, more deliberate game than it did in the first matchup between the Comets and Rebels (2-9, 0-3) because that’s the style he says they must play against E.D. White.

“You have to work the ball around, take your time, and not get into a footrace with E.D. White,” Peyton said. “It’s a more finesse game.”

Now, St. Charles hopes to have not one, but two matches remaining against the Cardinals.

As all three teams from District 7-III are playoff bound, Peyton said the choice of how to decide the district championship in the event the teams draw in regular season meetings was posed to him by E.D. White Coach Don Grabert — perhaps via a coin flip or other means if the coaches decided to not risk injury with a third match.

In turn, he directed it to his team.

“This is their team, and their choice,” said Peyton. “But it all comes down to Friday night.”