By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – E.D. White clinched the outright District 8-III championship Saturday afternoon with a victory at St. Charles, 3-1.

“They were just the better team,” said St. Charles coach Bill Ballard. “We had a couple of breakdowns and they made two good shots in that first half. They played well.”

The Cardinals scored twice within the first 20 minutes. The first came 15 minutes into the game via Jesse Cortez, then another score by Derek Knight landed five minutes later.

The Comets struck back midway through the second half when Ben Brady put in a corner kick with 20 minutes remaining.

“From that point, our guys really stepped up and we played most of the rest of the way in front of their goal,” said Ballard. “But we couldn’t tie it up. We had our chances.”

E.D. White’s David Fournet scored the Cardinals’ final goal just as time ran out in the game.

The Cardinals finished their district run undefeated at 6-0. They finish the regular season 10-2-4.

St. Charles finishes its regular season 10-7-2 (4-2).

Both teams will learn today who they will face in the postseason.

Ballard said that his team realizes that the lack of a district title, while disappointing, ends nothing for them.

“We just had a good practice,” said Ballard. “These guys still believe that they’re pretty good. It’s the third season now. You have your preseason, your district season, and now its playoff time. We’re kind of disappointed right now, but we’re looking for some better results going forward.”

GIRLS SOCCER

E.D. WHITE 5, ST. CHARLES 0 – The Cardinals swept District 8-III honors this season as both the boys and girls teams captured district crowns. The E.D. White girls overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit at St. Charles to capture a 5-1 win, sealing a perfect 4-0 district record.

Laura Hane gave SCC a 1-0 lead with her goal 18 minutes into the first half.

But E.D. White scored two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half to steal away the momentum.

“I can’t say the girls hung their heads after that, but it’s tough when you give up two goals like that,” said St. Charles coach Don Peyton. “You feel like you played perfect soccer for 40 minutes and all of a sudden you’re down.

“They’re a veteran team, and they took advantage of a couple of our mistakes.”

Morgan Becnel, Olivia Coffman, Victoria Verdun, Carlie Sternfells and Allie Falgoust all scored goals for the Cardinals (13-9).

Peyton noted one positive for SCC – for the first time this season, the Comets had all 11 of its regular starters in the lineup together.

“It’s a shame it took so long for it to happen,” said Peyton. “But if the first half of that game is any indication, the girls understand they’re capable of putting it together. People have stepped up for us this year, but it’s always good to have your veteran leadership out there.”

Like the boys, the SCC girls team will also learn of its playoff fate today — SCC is in, but will learn who it will face.