Despite Mahtomedi having some momentum, the Red Knights scored three goals in less than six minutes to go up by five goals heading into the fourth quarter. Those three goals proved to be more than enough as Benilde-St. Margaret’s rolled to a 9-3 win over Mahtomedi on Saturday.

Any chance the Zephyrs (1-4, 1-1) had at coming back in this battle of 2018 state tournament teams was quashed by the stranglehold of the Red Knights’ defense. Despite losing three key defenders from last season’s team, Benilde-St. Margaret’s has allowed nine goals in three games so far.

The Red Knight defense was anchored by junior goaltender Jack Keller, who stopped 14 of 17 shots on Saturday. Keller was key in staving off a number of Mahtomedi scoring opportunities on Saturday. That success along with the Benilde-St. Margaret’s (4-0, 1-0) defenders putting constant pressure on was a successful formula.

“We’re just a tough defensive team,” Red Knights coach Rob Horn said. “We play a good system and have a great goaltender. Our guys are starting to find their roles.”

The youth of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 3 in the latest coaches’ poll, isn’t just on defense. Only five of the 30 players on the Red Knights roster are seniors. Benilde-St. Margaret’s is relying on many young players to fill important spots.

“We’re finding where everyone fits,” Horn said. “It’s figuring out where these young guys can do their best. They’re starting to mature and really put it together.”

One of those younger players excelling in the early part of the season is sophomore attacker Matt Dowden. After scoring in last season’s state championship game, Dowden is back and scoring again. On Saturday, he led the Red Knights with four goals.

“He does such a great job at stretching the field,” Horn said. “It’s not just him that’s been so great. It’s the entire sophomore class.”

That group of sophomores will be key for Benilde-St. Margaret’s as three started for the Red Knights on Saturday.

“I feel like a lot of us proved last year how well we can work together,” Dowden said. “We are now trying to be leaders this year and help some of the younger guys.”

Part of leading this group means dealing with the pressure of finishing second at state two seasons ago. It also means the pressure of a regular-season winning streak that dates back to 2017.

“We have plenty of motivation,” Dowden said. “We’re doing more together away from the field. We want to have that brotherhood instead of just being teammates.”

With a four-game winning streak to open the season, it appears that Dowden and his Benilde-St. Margaret’s teammates are on the right track.