By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Six Comets scored goals as St. Charles picked up its fourth win of the season Wednesday, topping East St. John 9-0 in LaPlace.

Reyna Lubin scored three goals to lead the Comets (4-2-1), all coming in the first half as SCC took a 3-0 lead into halftime.

But in the second half, the Comets blew things wide open. Brittni Landry scored twice. Ricki Bratcher, Kristen Carrier, Emily Bourgeois and Kristine Brouwer each added a goal.

“At the half, I told them I wasn’t seeing the same team that played so well against Vandebilt Catholic,” said SCC Coach Don Peyton, referring to the team’s recent close loss to the defending Division II champions. “It was our first home game of the season, and I think in the first 15 minutes or so, the girls over-tried.”

East St. John (0-2) stuck close in the first half, which had much to do with the play of goalkeeper Terri Franklin. In Franklin’s first two games this season, she’s saved 76 shots.

“She’s tremendous,” said East St. John Coach Jason Beber. “You’ve got to come all the way to her to score. And when she gets it, she can punt it 60 yards. She’s been great for us.”

Peyton noticed.

“She kept them in the game for awhile,” he said. “She was very aggressive. Most won’t come out to challenge Reyna, but she was able to stop her a couple of times.”

But with little depth, East St. John couldn’t match the Comets in the second half as SCC pulled away, especially without the services of striker Tia Casadaban, who missed the game due to a knee injury and will be sidelined three weeks.

“We didn’t have the wind to play with them as the game progressed,” Beber said. “We had some opportunities in the game to score, but I think the kids got a little too excited to finish when they had a shot. That will improve with experience.”

As for St. Charles, Peyton’s defense is hitting its stride. After allowing eight combined goals in their first two games, SCC has allowed only two overall in their last five.

“That’s how I like to coach,” said Peyton. “Our two in the back don’t let the ball get through. A lot of coaches just want to pound, pound, pound the ball all game. But I want to see a strong defense. “