Original Article

BALLWIN • Nate Pawlow enjoyed every minute of SLUH's win over De Smet in the Mid-States Challenge Cup championship contest last season.

From the stands.

Now, the senior is set to play a key role in defending that crown.

Pawlow scored the go-ahead goal on Friday to help the Junior Billikens knock off De Smet 4-1 in a rematch of the title tilt at Queeny Recreational Complex.

SLUH (4-0) won its 23rd successive game and beat De Smet for the tenth time in a row.

The Jr. Bills proved they are still the team to beat with a resounding triumph.

"Last year, it's was great watching the boys get it done," said Pawlow, who was a standout at the JV level. "But this is even better. My senior year, trying to win a title again, it's doesn't get any better."

Bob Lockwood, Gabe Schwartz and Jack Hazelton also scored for the winners. Senior goalie Brendan Rasch stopped 17 of 18 shots in goal.

"This was a big game for us, and (we) played like it," SLUH coach Jack Behan said. "This was a really good night for us."

It will be the performance of players like Pawlow that will play a key role in the drive to repeat. He and linemates Alexander Beville and Trey Lyons have moved up to form the Jr. Bills No. 2 line this season.

"We've got to get production from them," Behan said. "We talked about dirty goals and getting to the net and that's exactly what (Pawlow) did. It was good to see."

Pawlow poked in a rebound in front of the goal mouth with 4 minutes, 28 seconds left in the first period to break a 1-1 tie and send SLUH on its way.

"We kept it in, a lot of backchecking, and I just crashed to the net," Pawlow said.

SLUH (4-0) pushed the lead to 3-1 on a blast by Schwartz late in the second period. Hazelton converted on the power play early in the third period to nail down the triumph.

Bak made several key stops when the game was tight. He stonewalled Ben Lodes from close range while nursing a 2-1 lead.

The Jr. Billikens lost several key weapons from last years team including sniper Joe Winkelmann and standout defenseman Christian Berger. Plus, stalwart Henry Wagner has missed the first few games with a lower-body injury.

De Smet (4-1-1) entered the contest with plenty of momentum after winning its first four matches before playing to a draw with CBC.

But the Spartans were unable to keep pace after the first period.

"At this point, with it still being early, this is not a bad spot we're in," De Smet coach Christopher Durso said. "There are some things we need to clean up. But we don't play for now, we play for February and March."

Justin Reynolds got the Spartans lone goal in the opening period. He tied the contest with a wrist shot from the point that eluded Rasch.

Lockwood got SLUH off and running by scoring from close range just 84 seconds into the contest.