Just the taste of victory can be enough to build confidence.

Only time will tell but Brian Small and the John Carroll coaching staff hope today's 12-10 win at St. Vincent will provide the spark that sends the season heading back in the right direction.

On the heels of three consecutive losses, the Blue Streaks were looking to get out front and stay out front in Latrobe Wednesday afternoon. But the host Bearcats shook off an early JCU goal and held a 2-1 lead early on.

John Carroll then erupted for five unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead midway through the second period. The Bearctas scored two points late, the last with just one second left, to slice their deficit down to 6-4 at the intermission.

The Blue Streaks never trailed in the second half, but St. Vincent twice got to within a single tally at 7-6 and again at 8-7 -- both in the third period. 

That was when John Carroll responded with three big goals by Logan Calhoun, Ryan Crater and Declan O'Grady to build an 11-8 advatange.

Andrew Rao scored the final John Carroll goal with just under 11 minutes to play to make the score 12-9, and St. Vincent scored its last goal with 9:23 to play to make the score 12-10. From there, the JCU defense took over,, limiting Bearcat possessions and getting three huge saves from Kyle Lake to keep the home team off the scoreboard.

O'Grady scored four goals and Calhoun added three, while Collin Rice came up with four assists. The Blue Streaks forced St. Vincent into 21 turovers, with Dan Biron causing three.

The win improves John carroll's record on the season to 2-3, while the Bercats fall to 2-3.