Box Score When the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll was released showing John Carroll and Capital paired as co-favorites to win the league, it did not sit particularly well with the Blue Streaks.

After all, JCU had won two consecutive OAC regular season and tournament crowns, and had won 13 consecutive conference regular season games spanning the last two seasons.

But as John Carroll head coach Joe Rautenstrauch was quick to note, respect is always earned and never given.

The Blue Streaks went out and earned that respect Saturday night at Don Shula Stadium. Using a five goal outburst in the opening quarter, John Carroll led wire to wire and picked up its league-record 14th consecutive conference victory by beating the Crusaders, 13-9.

Five different players found the back of the net in the opening period against first team All-OAC keeper Cole Palmby. Collin Rice, Brendan Whitty, MacGregor Roberts, Logan Calhoun and Skyler Blake all scored, and Brendan Whitty also assisted on two goals as JCU opened the wide lead in the first 15 minutes,

Not that it was a walk in the park after that. Brennan O'Callaghan got in the act and scored twice to lead a Capital charge that cut the John Carroll lead to 5-3. But JCU scored the final three goals of the half and took an 8-3 lead into the locker room.

Capital kept the pressure on by scoring three of the first four goals of the second half. But in a pivotal stretch, the Blue Streaks answered in a big way. Kevin Hack and Colin Corcoran scored to push the lead to 11-6, and after O'Callghan scored his third goal (and 200th of his career) for Capital, Calhoun and Hack scored again as John Carroll opened up its largest lead of the night, 13-7, with 10:59 to play.

The Crusaders tacked on two late goals, but it would not be enough to threaten John Carroll.

John Carroll held the edge in shots (31-26), shots on goal (20-15), ground balls (31-26) and faceoffs (12-11) in defeating Capital for a fifth consecutive time.