By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With a pair of district-deciding match looming next week, St. Charles fine tuned its offense on Thursday night, trouncing visiting Houma Christian 12-1 in a District 8-III contest.

The Comets’ Paul Cupit scored three goals and tallied four assists in a career-best performance to lead SCC, which led 4-0 at halftime and turned on the jets in the second half.

“We really worked our passing,” said Cupit. “When you do that things really tend to open up for you, especially around the goal.”

The win was a lift for St. Charles (5-9-2, 3-1) after a tough 2-1 district loss at E.D. White on Tuesday that left the Comets a game behind the Cardinals in the district standings.

The Comets scored twice in the opening minutes of play, first on a goal by Austin Allen, then on Cupit’s first goal of the night.

Aaron Allen scored SCC’s third goal on a cross by Cupit, then Daniel Ballard converted a goal just inside the right bar in the 31st minute of the first half.

But SCC really began to roll once the second half began. Aaron Allen scored his second goal six minutes into the second half.

Two minutes later, Alex Rome made it 6-0, and four minutes after that, Ben Brady got loose for a goal to make it 7-0 as SCC began to find major openings in the Warrior defense.

“They had one sub, so they tired out fast,” said St. Charles coach Bill Ballard.

Though Houma Christian (1-11, 0-5) would score once in the second half, David Suarez, Andrew Bush, Bradley Odom and Cupit each scored goals the rest of the way to round out the 12-1 margin.

For a Comets team that has struggled to score at times this season, it may have been the confidence boost the team needs entering into a do-or-die final week. Games with Riverside Monday and E.D. White Friday will determine SCC’s district fate – wins in each would mean at least a split district championship.

“It’s a big week. We’re looking forward to it,” says Cupit. “If we keep our focus, good things will happen for us.”

Said Ballard: “I’m looking for this team to be mentally intense. They know what’s at hand.”

E.D. WHITE 2, SCC 1 – St. Charles took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but fell short of taking control of District 8-III when E.D. White rallied for a 2-1 victory.

The Cardinals broke a 1-1 tie with a score off of a corner kick with five minutes left in the match to emerge with the win.

Alex Rome scored the lone goal for SCC, 25 minutes into the first half.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but no cigar,” said Ballard. “We took it to them, but it was a close, tough defeat.”