LAPLACE — The St. Charles Catholic girls soccer team knew Tuesday night’s match was not going to be easy.

Even though the Lady Comets had already faced their arch-rival, Riverside Academy, twice this season and won both matches rather commandingly, they knew it would not be wise to overlook the Lady Rebels — not if they wanted to make history.

That turned out to be a wise strategy.

Katelyn Wagues-pack’s goal in the 12th minute of the first half was all the Lady Comets could muster in a 1-0 victory against a persistent Riverside team in the regional round of the Division IV playoffs.

That puts St. Charles Catholic, 17-2-1, the No. 2 seed, in a quarterfinal match against No. 7 Holy Savior Menard to be played at 5:30 p.m. Monday in LaPlace.

This is the Lady Comets’ first time ever to reach the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

This also is the highest the team has ever been seeded in the playoff bracket.

Menard defeated No. 10 Houma Christian School 3-1 in overtime Tuesday to improve to 9-7-3.

Freshman Hannah Kramel scored two of the Lady Eagles’ goals.

Senior Maggie Antoon scored the other. Goalkeeper Emalea Futrell, another freshman, had seven saves against Houma Christian.

Comets coach Travis Trepagnier said he doesn’t know very much about his upcoming opponent, but he expects his team to put forth its best effort.

“If we play defense like we played the other night, we should be OK,” Trepagnier said.

“Our offense didn’t play really well. We had a lot of opportunities that we let get away.”

Trepagnier said the play of the defense was key to Tuesday’s victory, adding the Comets had to fight off several attacks by the Lady Rebels.

“Riverside really hung in there right to the end,” he said. “We kind of knew they would. Kudos to them for doing so.”

He said the defensive play of Eden Simoneaux, Colette Rainey and goalie Alexis Keys was a huge key to the victory.

“Without them playing defense, it would have been a different game,” Trepagnier said.

Now the coach is hoping to get — and keep — his team healthy. He said several players have been battling illness and missing practices.

“We had some kids who didn’t come to practice all week, they just came to the game,” he said.

“Right now I just need them all to get well and stay that way.”