By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Once St. Charles Catholic’s Karlie Englade booted a goal to tie her Lady Comets up 2-2 with visiting Cabrini with 10 minutes left Wednesday night, an exciting stretch run of soccer ensued. 

But despite what coach Travis Trepagnier called one of his team’s strongest efforts of the season, the rebuilding Comets were denied their second victory of the year,  as Cabrini’s Lisette Hrapmann’s goal with 3:58 remaining in regulation proved a game-winner in the Crescents’ 3-2 victory. 

“We were definitely fighting to the final whistle,” said Hrapmann. “We’ve had some hard battles this year. It feels great to pull one out tonight.”

It was Hrapmann’s second goal of the evening, after her first-half goal put Cabrini up 2-1 entering the half.

Trepagnier said that the result was disappointing, but the team’s play on the field was certainly not.

“It’s a big improvement,” said Trepagnier, in his first season as Comets’ coach. “It was the best I’ve seen them play together in terms of chemistry. We had two good days of practice and the girls are starting to really understand the game a lot better.’

“Late in some of these games, you can just see it with them, how hungry they are for the win. They want it.”

Englade’s tying goal came only moments after the Comets (1-8) suffered some bad luck; an Englade shot with 12 minutes left hit the left post and richocheted back into play.

But she’s convert soon after, scoring on a quick pass off of a deflection. 

The answer came once Cabrini’s offense kicked into high gear in the game’s final minutes. 

The Crescents’ Anna Vandercook got loose for a potential breakaway attempt, but Comets’ goalkeeper Lauren Douroux charged the ball and prevented the shot. Moments later, SCC defender Jasmin Stipe caught up to Vandercook on a similar leakout, stifling another shot attempt. 

But the third time was the charm. Hrapmann found open real estate with just under four minutes left and converted on a short shot to provide the difference.

“We changed some things, put some more bodies in front of the ball,” said Cabrini coach Ryan Hodkinson. “It gave us more of a chance to attack.’

“(Hrapmann)’s an outstanding player. She’s our leader and sets a great example for the rest of our players … That game could have gone either way. You love to see a soccer match where the result hangs in the balance in the final 10 minutes, because often it isn’t the case.”

Vandercook scored the game’s first goal just 5:40 into play, putting Cabrini up 1-0. 

Corrin Drexel answered with 13:10 left in the first half, lofting a pretty left-footed shot just into the top left corner of the net to knot the game at 1.

Five minutes later, Hrapmann put Cabrini back on top, weaving through the Comets defense to generate an open shot for herself, the ball squirting just past a diving Douroux to make it 2-1.

St. Charles senior Kaitlyn Lemoine echoed her coach’s words, noting the Comets have come a long way since the beginning of the season.

“We lost our first game 11-0,” said Lemoine. “Games like tonight are a big step up. Our passing is much better right now … We’re actually passing to feet instead of just kicking it up.’

“(Games that come down to the final minutes) are exhilarating. We just have to work on finishing it off for next time.”