CHESTERFIELD • The last time the CBC hockey team saw Marquette on the ice was a year ago and the result was a rare regular season loss.
With a three-goal second period, CBC made sure history didn't repeat itself Monday at the Hardee's Iceplex. The Cadets skated to a 6-0 victory, adding another notch to a terrific 17-1-1 season. Marquette dropped to 9-6-2 on the season.
"Last year, every time we got a lead, they kept coming back," CBC coach John Jost said. "(Tonight) we said: Once we score, don't let them back in it. ... The guys on the team certainly remembered (last year)."
Glenn Ryan scored two goals and picked up three assists in the victory. Ryan said the Marquette contest came along at just the right time; the Cadets were looking for a stiff test as a tune-up for its game with St. Louis U. High on Friday at Affton.
"It's always one of the biggest games of the year," Ryan said. "We always get a lot of fans, and there is a great atmosphere."
The two Metro Catholic Conference schools have split two earlier meetings.
"We have to jump out of the gate early and hit them and hit them,and hit them," Ryan said. "They're a good team, and we just need to take it to them."
Monday, CBC went at Marquette early, picking up a goal from Drew Crogham with nearly 12 minutes left in the first period.
Marquette responded by tightening its defense. It also got a little offense working, setting up Luke Pittaluga and Dominic Costa for scoring chances that were turned away by a tough CBC defense.
In the second period, Ryan broke free with a goal 49 seconds into the period to make it 2-0, and Clark Juster scored about three minutes later to give the Cadets a 3-0 lead.
A three-goal lead is money in the bank as far as CBC is concerned. With a deep defensive corps led by Thomas Stahlhuth, Addison Brusch and anchored by goalies in Joe O'Brien and Joe Staely, CBC has surrendered just 24 goals in 19 games.
Monday, O'Brien turned in a complete-game shutout in goal.
"We have seven or eight defensemen that we can throw out there," Jost said. "We think that everything starts from back there."
Michael Beckham scored on a CBC power play to make it 4-0 with 2:22 left in the second period.
CBC started the third period with a flurry to provide the knockout punch. Beckham scored his second goal of the game with 10:55 left, and, 17 seconds later, Ryan netted his second goal off assists from Josh Bell and Mike Sieckhaus.
"We played with a lot of emotion," Jost said. "When we keep our tenacity, we're a good team. When we don't, we struggle."
