No. 10 Columbia was picked first in the KCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, but St. Ambrose looked like the team to beat in the conference Sunday afternoon in Davenport. The Bees (4-0, 2-0 KCAC) dominated in every category en route to a 15-8 victory, giving them their first win over the Cougars (1-4, 0-1 KCAC) since 2018. 

After Columbia went up 2-1 with 8:13 remaining in the first quarter, SAU scored three straight goals. Michael Keating knotted the score at two, then Michael Shakerin put the Bees up 3-2 with 29 seconds left. Hunter Northway won the ensuing faceoff, and Isaiah Hahn put the Bees up two with 6 seconds to go in the quarter. 

St. Ambrose broke things open in the second, with Keating finding Cole Danner for the first score of the period. Keating scored his second of the day with 11 minutes until halftime for a 6-2 SAU lead, and then Hayden Latham got on the scoresheet to push the lead to five. After a Cougar goal to make it 7-3, St. Ambrose rattled off three straight to close out the frame with Alex Tomaszewski (from Matt Cortopassi) scoring between goals from Danner. 

Columbia scored four goals in the third period, but goals from Keating, Christian Dimaano, and Latham kept the Bees solidly in front with a 13-7 lead heading into the fourth. Shakerin scored two goals for SAU in the final frame between a goal from the visitors for the 15-8 final. 

Danner, Keating, and Shakerin each scored three goals for St. Ambrose. Northway went 21-24 in faceoffs and did not allow Columbia a faceoff win in the first half. He also had a game-high 16 ground balls. Nolan Hayes made two saves in 40 minutes in net, and Johnny Moran was credited with one save in 20 minutes. 

The Bees will face another ranked opponent - taking on No. 9 Concordia (Mich.) - Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Davenport.