LAPLACE — The St. Charles Catholic Lady Comets have turned around a rough start to the soccer season with help from a talented defensive line.

Entering the week with at 7-4, the Lady Comets are hot off a four-game win streak.

Head coach Travis Trepagnier said the team developed a better practice structure after adapting to tough competition.

“We had a pretty up and down season to begin with,” Trepagnier said. “It took us a little while to find our footing and get some chemistry together. Luckily, in the second half of the season, we’re finally starting to get that. We’re finding people in the right positions. Hopefully, the experience can help us going down the road into the playoffs.”

With six seniors, Trepagnier said the Lady Comets are older and more experienced than in past years. Several girls on the team already have playoff runs under their belts.

Senior Eden Simoneaux continues to lead the team through practices and games, even while fighting off a handful of minor injuries. Trepagnier described Simoneaux as a talented forward and a “definite next level player” who has the capability to succeed on the collegiate level if she chooses to continue her athletic career.

Simoneaux, senior Destiny Romious and junior Anna Guidry lead in scoring, according to Trepagnier.

“Destiny has been here for four years, and she always hustles and takes every game 100 percent,” Trepagnier said.

“She’s a tough girl who can take over every game if she wants to.”

Romious and Guidry are consistent midfield players who “complement each other very well,” Trepagnier said.

Juniors Colette Rainey and Kirstin Smith are defensive standouts with starting experience dating back to their freshmen years.

“Colette and Kirstin are only juniors, but they are next level players,” Trepagnier said. “I could name almost my whole back line. A lot of credit for our success this year belongs to everybody on our defense.”

That back line also includes junior Valerie Perilloux and sophomore Emily Giamolva. Sophomore midfielder Antoinette Chiarella, though young, has been one of the most vocal on the team.

“She’s got a coach’s mentality, and I think that’s going to go a long way in her future,” Trepagnier said.

Recent success doesn’t guarantee a successful playoff run, according to Trepagnier, who said there is plenty of room for improvement in the Lady Comets’ passing game. He said most of the wins have been tight battles, not runaway victories. Friday’s district game against Covenant Christian ended in a 1-0 win, but sloppy play made it too close for comfort.

“I still think we need to tighten up on a few basic areas,” Trepagnier said. “If we don’t get that locked down, it’s going to be a short trip in the playoffs. We want to just take it a game at a time. I need our girls to stay humble. We’ve been hitting our stride, but we can’t falter.”

The best gameplay of the season was seen during a 3-2 victory over Lusher Charter, where the Lady Comets came back from a 0-2 at halftime deficit to snatch a win.