Comets off to strong start

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 26, 2008

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles girls’ soccer Coach Don Peyton really likes the core group of girls he has returning on his team in 2008. The Comets’ early results make it easy to understand why.

After dropping its opening game 3-0 to Vandebilt Catholic last Tuesday, St. Charles hasn’t lost in its last three games, posting wins over Destrehan and St. Joseph’s and coming from behind to tie St. Thomas Aquinas.

Reyna Lubin, after missing the season’s first game, has scored nine goals in her first three games — including the 96th of her Comet career against Destrehan on Monday at the Central Lafourche tournament.

She’s part of a veteran team that Peyton has assembled of juniors and seniors, one he feels is primed to take the next step this season after losing a heartbreaker in the regional round to Catholic-Pointe Coupee a year ago.

“We started slow a year ago, and found our identity in the playoffs,” Peyton said. “These seniors have all played together for four years. Half of the team are juniors and seniors, the other are freshman and sophomores. So we’ve got a core group coming in year after year

St. Charles (2-1-1) defeated Destrehan 2-1 to advance past the second round of the tournament. SCC led 1-0 at the half after a Lubin goal. Brittni Landry scored what would eventually be the winning goal from 18-yards away, shooting through the back corner of the net.

DHS scored its goal with less than five minutes remaining, but couldn’t close the gap.

“That’s a good win. It may not be a traditional rivalry, but for the girls it is,” said Peyton. “A lot of them know each other and have played together. It was a well-played, physical game.”

Earlier on Monday, SCC defeated St. Joseph’s 6-0 in the tourney’s first round. Lubin scored four goals. Cassie Drexel and Kristine Brouwer each scored for the Comets. SCC led 4-0 at the half.

“We were able to get everyone a chance to play,” Peyton said.

On Thursday, meanwhile, St. Thomas Aquinas went into the half with a 2-0 lead. Peyton said his team looked deflated, playing against a team it lost to 5-0 a year prior.

“I just said, ‘We’re better than this. Lets go prove it,’” Peyton said. “I saw on their faces that it was getting to them.”

The Comets proved Peyton correct. They came roaring back when Lubin scored three consecutive goals to begin the second half. Reeling, STA answered with a goal to tie the game. But St. Charles took the lead on Lubin’s fourth and final goal. STA would fight back to secure a tie — but St. Charles had something to build on.

“To the girls, it was a win,” he said. “To come back on a good team and score four goals on them in the second half…I know it must have been frustrating (for STA).

“They won the first half, but I felt like we dominated the second. It was really a see-saw game.”

For Peyton, what he saw in that second half he hopes is a sign of things to come.

“I hope we’ve turned the corner early this year. We’ve got the senior leadership to do it,” he said.