Chesterfield, Mo. – The Maryville University M1 hockey team logged two wins over the weekend against the University of Illinois to secure the first 4-0 start in program history. The series was chippy, seeing 60 combined penalty minutes, along with two nail-biting finishes in which the Saints came out on top 4-3 Friday night and 5-4 Saturday night.
 
Friday, Sept. 17 - Game One vs. Illinois:
The Saints traded a pair of goals with the Fighting Illini in the first period. After the men from Urbana-Champaign, Ill., took a lead, junior Brad Boudreau made it level with 4:15 left in the first. Illinois grabbed the lead again with just over a minute to play, but senior Kole Mudra found space after passes from Jack Harrison and Timon Prexler set him free to tie the game 2-2 before the first intermission. The only goal in the second period came from senior Damian Caringi on a power play to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Saints. Sophomore Cole Bohnet extended the lead for Maryville early in the third period, but Illinois quickly struck back to make it a tight 4-3 game. But that was all the Saints needed, as Ed Coffey snagged 28 saves to collect his second win of the season.
 
Saturday, Sept. 18 - Game Two vs. Illinois:
Saturday's contest saw the Saints fall down 3-2 heading into the third period. Five minutes into the third, senior Christian Alvegran tied it up for the men in red sweaters. Caringi netted his second power play goal of the weekend two minutes later to put Maryville ahead 4-3. Illinois tied it up late and sent the game to overtime where Alvegran, the native of Toreboda, Sweden, took advantage of the three vs. three college hockey format and found space to fire home the game-winner. The 5-4 victory is the second Saturday in a row that the Saints had to come from behind in the third to pull off the comeback win.
 
Maryville M1 Record: 4-0
 
Next Up: The Maryville M1 hockey team is on the road Wednesday, Sept. 22, against conference opponent McKendree at 7:30 p.m. in Lebanon, Ill. Then John Hogan's bunch stays on the road for a two-game series against Waldorf Friday, Sept. 24, and Saturday, Sept. 25. The games will take place in Albert Lea, Minn., with puck drops of 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.