The victory improved the Crusaders to 3-8 overall and gave them win No. 2 in Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference play. McDonogh is now 5-1-1 overall, 4-1-1 in the conference.

“We came out here flat,” Nichols said. “They were 1-7 [in the league] and we just did not respect them.”

From the opening kickoff, both teams were fought hard for ball control, with McDonogh keeping the ball on St. Paul?s half through the first 10 minutes of play. Midway through the first half, though, St. Paul?s, which didn?t register a shot on goal in their first game against McDonogh, started to create scoring opportunities.

The first Crusader goal came with 4:35 left in the first half, when senior forward George Banks found the net off a long pass from senior midfielder Graham Smith.

Coming out of halftime with a 1-0 lead, St. Paul?s wasted no time getting back on the offensive. Senior Nick Shano sent a free kick into the box and, once again, Banks was there to head it in.

“I heard the goalie call for it, so I knew all I had to do was chip it over his touch,” Banks said.

With a two-goal lead, the Crusader defense clamped down. Despite McDonogh?s continued attack as the clock ticked down, the Crusaders did not yield.

“At that point, we got more defensive-minded,” Schrenier said. “We did not want to give them anything easy.”

ST. PAUL?S 2, MCDONOGH 0

» The game was McDonogh?s second in as many days. The Eagles shut out Loyola, 3-0, on the road Tuesday.

» Banks? pair of goals Wednesday gives him 10 on the season.

» McDonogh sophomore forward Chris Agorsar has been playing with an oversized cast on his broken right wrist.

» Next up for St. Paul?s is a home game Friday at 4 p.m. against Archbishop Spalding. McDonogh hitsthe road Saturday to face Gilman at 10 a.m.