Benilde-St. Margaret's Boys' Hockey

Anders Jecha stopped 22 shots and Grant Besse scored twice as fourth-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret's downed seventh-ranked Hill-Murray, 3-1.

The Red Knights won their second game in two outings behind a stellar defensive effort, some timely goal scoring and an exceptional effort in goal by Jecha.

"I don’t think that you can say enough good things about the way Jecha played today," BSM head coach Ken Pauly said. "Five on five, I felt that we controlled the play. But he stood tall when we were serving penalties in the second period. He also had some key stops to preserve the two-goal cushion in the third period.”

The Red Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Jake Horton intercepted a Hill-Murray clearning attempt at the right point. He immediately stepped up and let loose a shot which Chris Flood tipped past Pioneer netminder Tim Shaughnessy at the game's five minute, 39 second mark.

Besse's first goal came on a goal-mouth scramble. Horton had a pair of shots stopped before Besse banged home the third shot for his second goal of the season just 26 seconds into the middle period.

It was the only one of 16 shots in the period on which the Red Knights would score. With 13 penalties whistled in the period and five power plays, the goalies played a big role with Shaugnessy stopping 15 shots and Jecha seven, only allowing a power-play goal by J.D. Cotroneo at 7:49.

With BSM clinging to a one-goal lead in the third period, Besse gave the Red Knights some breathing room when he score on another rebound, this time on the power play at 6:35 of the final frame.

The line of Besse, Pat Steinhauser, who assisted on Besse's first goal, and Christian Horn combined for 13 shots on goal and showed why they are considered one of the top line cominbations in the state.

“All Besse does is score," Pauly said of the sophomore, who now has 33 career goals in 29 games. "It can’t be taught and he has the knack.

"I was very pleased with the play of Steinhauser and Horn as well. All three of those guys were a force tonight.”

The Red Knights collected their second win with a complete team effort, which Pauly said is the key to beating a top team such as Hill-Murray.

“You have to put three periods together if you want to beat good teams and I’m pleased that, for the most part, we did that today,” he said.“Overall, we really played as well as you can this early in the season. Hill-Murray has a heckuva hockey team, and that’s a great early-season win for our team.”

The Red Knights now embark upon the quest for a sixth consecutive North Suburban Conference championship as they face NSC foe St. Francis, Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m. at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center.