By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Less than two weeks ago, the St. Charles Lady Comets were staring at the prospect of a winless season with just three matches left.

Today, they’re playoff bound.

Senior forward Jalynn Johnson scored all five of her team’s goals as St. Charles reeled off its third straight District 9-III victory, toppling St. Martin’s 5-0 to secure a second place district finish — and the automatic postseason berth that comes with it.

The victory came on St. Charles’ senior night and Johnson, the Comets’ lone senior, celebrated it in style. It gave her eight goals in her last two matches after she scored three goals in St. Charles’ 3-0 victory over St. Martin’s last week.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better end to my senior year, honestly,” said Johnson.

After the departure of longtime coach Don Peyton prior to the season, St. Charles underwent a second change at head coach after the season’s beginning, throwing things into disarray.

Already in the process of breaking in a team full of young players, the Comets went winless in predistrict play and dropped their first three district matches, scoring no goals in the first half of district play.

But the Comets looked like a different team from there winning their final matches beginning with a dramatic PK shootout victory over Haynes and culminating with Monday’s win, one that saw SCC generate even more quality scoring chances than the 5-0 score would indicate.

“We’ve gone through so many trials and tribulations,” said Johnson. “Losing coaches, gaining coaches … Every time we began to gain a little hope, we lost it. So finishing like this, it just makes my senior year so great.”

SCC finished 3-3 in district play, one ahead of Haynes, which finished 2-4.

Comets coach Eleno Rodriguez took over in the midst of the season and watched his team blossom for a sudden playoff push.

“I remember at the beginning of the season hearing a parent say that if we scored 10 goals this season, they’d be happy,” said Rodriguez, whose team has scored exactly that many over the three wins. “This is a blessing. It’s wonderful to see them come together.”

SCC led 1-0 at halftime before blowing things open in the second half. After Karlie Englade came open and nearly put SCC ahead 2-0 on a short kick, Johnson just missed an opportunity to do the same 11 minutes into the second half. But the duo combined to create another scoring chance when Englade fed Johnson on a one-timer like play in the box; Johnson’s hard kick ricocheted back to her, and she put in the rebound to make it 2-0.

Johnson scored the day’s third goal on a breakaway 18 minutes in, then popped in another seven minutes later to make it 4-0.

With 4:02 remaining, she added a score from range, lofting a ball over the keeper’s head to officially cap the Comet scoring.

She said that the team began to turn things around after an 8-0 loss at Riverside.

“We were dejected after that loss,” said Johnson. “After that, I think we came together determined to change things. Defensively, we’ve really stepped up.”

Rodriguez credited SCC boys coach Sean LeBlanc for assisting the team down the stretch and said he hopes the team’s strong play down the stretch will carry over into next season.

“Hopefully we’re building some momentum that will make some of our athletes in other sports take notice and want to come out and lend a hand, to give it a shot,” said Rodriguez. “Our players truly love to play, and it’s been that way all season.”

For Johnson and her teammates, that season will extend at least one more match.

“I’m so proud of all of my girls, all of my freshmen,” said Johnson, a wide smile upon her face.

“This is so rewarding.”  

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