CREVE COEUR • St. Louis University High would fade but wouldn't go away.
The visiting Junior Billikens held rival DeSmet in check for most of Saturday's action when they came away with a 13-10 win.
The victory improved Mark Seyer's team to 13-6 on the season.
"I liked how we moved the ball," Seyer said. "It was nice to get production out of the midfield today. Defensively we had some let downs on loose ball situations but when it came down to it they held together.
The Spartans fell to 4-13.
"We've struggled all season long," DeSmet coach Ron Kelam, Jr. said. "We have a ton of talent. We just can't put four quarters together.
"These kids all know each other very well. They are very good friends and mortal enemies at the same time. It's quite the little blood match with everything that goes on here."
SLUH led 7-6 after three quarters and took over late in a frantic fourth quarter.
DeSmet's Brandon Lentz put the Spartans up 8-7 with 10 minutes to play. With the game knotted at 9-9, SLUH Thomas Place was in the right place when he caught an errant Spartan throw in front of an open net and scored easily to make it 10-9 with 7:28 to play. Mac Moore and Joe Husky netted goals within a minute of each other to put the Spartans away 12-9 with 1:30 to play.
Moore finished with four goals in the game.
"We knew it was coming down to the end of the season and that it was a big game for them," Moore said. "It's always a big rivalry and we figured we had to step up. They kept it real close but we had to step on the pedal."
DeSmet will be at Chaminade Wednesday at 6 p.m.
SLUH hosts Kirkwood Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
