Like many teams in Minnesota are experiencing, an already short season complicated by a cold spring means the Cadets are still working to solidify their fundamentals after the schedule has started. Head coach Frank Clark said they have not yet installed some of the more complicated aspects of their offense and defense. They hope to do so as the season progresses.

“I think we just played cleaner,” Clark said about Monday’s win. “Some of the things we have focused on in practice are starting to pay off. High reps, nothing too fancy, we’re just sticking with the fundamentals.”

The Cadets’ season started with some extra motivation, facing a Woodbury team on April 18 that ended the Cadets’ season last spring with a 10-6 loss in the Section 3 championship game. Woodbury won another close one 8-5 in the opener.

Despite the loss, the Cadets (2-1) are hoping they can use the lessons from the early matchup in case there is another rematch with Woodbury further down the line.

“I know a lot of our guys are really motivated by that,” said Hudson about last spring’s section loss. “We’re building a lot off last year.”

As is often the case with spring sports in Minnesota, the schedule is busy with games as postseason play starts in late May. After Monday’s win against the Bears (2-3), the Cadets are already preparing for a conference matchup against St. Paul/Two Rivers on Tuesday. Metro East Conference rival Mahtomedi marks St. Thomas Academy’s third game of the week on Friday.

With a good mix of veteran returners and a coaching staff led by Clark in its second year with the program, the players are motivated to continue working through the busy spring schedule.

“We’re definitely getting more comfortable with each other and our coaching staff,” said Hudson. “It’s all been gelling.”