By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – “People are starting to talk,” St. Charles boys soccer coach Sean LeBlanc said to his team Wednesday night, “and after tonight, they’ll be talking even more. There’s going to be a target on your back.” 

SCC had just put the finishing touches on a 2-1 victory over Dunham at home, one day after besting defending Division III state champion Parkview Baptist, 2-0. Both were district contests. 

Dunham was ranked 11th in Division III and Parkview Baptist 12th entering the week. St. Charles (5-2-3) sat behind them at 15, though that number is now sure to rise. 

“It’s huge,” said LeBlanc. “You look at Parkview coming in as the defending state champions. Dunham, there’s a lot of talent on that team. They’re very skilled. Our boys had to match their intensity and physicality tonight and they did a great job of it.”

Against Dunham, Nathaniel Weinert scored the game-winner off of an assist by Albert Hane, the score coming with six minutes left in regulation. Hane fed Weinert as he crossed into the box and Weinert shot as soon as he received the ball. 

LeBlanc said that his team’s early season offensive struggles were dissipating as the players began to form chemistry with one another, and the play seemed a strong example of that. 

“We’re playing with a lot more composure,” said Weinert. “Our passing has improved a lot. Our work ethic is strong. All of that’s really contributed (to the improvement).” 

St. Charles took a 1-0 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the first half on a long Mason Roussel goal. Roussel pulled back from his defender and lofted a high shot just over the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm. 

“I noticed that my defender pulled off whenever I pulled back, so once he did that there, I shot,” said Roussel. “I didn’t see the goal that clearly, but I saw an opportunity.” 

Dunham answered almost immediately, tying the game after a Sean Militello shot resulted in a SCC own goal with 11:18 to go before halftime.

“We’ve got tough kids,” said LeBlanc. “They’re able to respond to adversity. That’s why we scheduled the Jesuits, the Holy Crosses … we were going to take our licks early, but those matches help make you mentally strong.”

St. Charles is now set to face off with district rival Riverside today, the match set for 9 a.m. at Riverside. The girls teams will face off following that match, roughly at 11 a.m. 

LeBlanc said that his team can’t afford to rest on its laurels. 

“We can be happy about this stretch, but we can’t be complacent,” said LeBlanc. “We’re earning respect, but with that the target on our back gets a little bigger.”

 

ST. CHARLES 2, PARKVIEW BAPTIST 0 — In a match that was rescheduled from Jan. 4, the Comets defeated the defending Division III champions 2-0 at St. Charles. 

Brandon Lemoine and Daniel Jaubert each scored goals for the Comets.