Chesterfield, Mo. - In the first round of the 2022 ACHA Men's 1 National Tournament, No. 14 seeded Maryville took care of the No. 19 John Carroll in a 4-0 victory. In the single elimination tournament, the Saints were matched up against perennial powerhouse Iowa State. The No. 3 seed Cyclones received a bye to the second round. 
 
Ten minutes into the game, Jake Chartier got the Saints on the board first. Nearly seven minutes later, senior Brad Boudreau would net his 12th goal of the season to put Maryville up 2-0. Unfortunately for the Saints, the Cyclones quickly responded with a goal of their own to cut the deficit in half. With seven minutes left in the second, the Saints would go on the power play but Iowa State pounced on a miscue and scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game 2-2.
 
The third period was much like the first 40 minutes as neither team gave up many scoring chances and playing structurally sound tournament style hockey. However, with two minutes left in the third period, the Cyclones received a lucky bounce and snapped a puck from the top of the circles past junior goalie Ed Coffey. Maryville pulled Coffey and created some chances with the extra attacker but Iowa State hung on to win the game 3-2. The Cyclones narrowly outshot the Saints 27-26.
 
"Our guys have come a long way this season," Saints head coach John Hogan said.  "While we weren't able to achieve our goal in making a national tournament run, it does not take away from the success that this season was. Winning the MCH regular season and conference tournament were great steps for our program. While this loss stings now, I know over time, our returning core, freshmen, and team culture will be better for it. This season and tournament experience will be invaluable as we continue to climb the ACHA Men's 1 ladder, hopefully competing for a national tournament soon.
 
"This senior group achieved things that most people in our hockey world thought to be unattainable," Hogan said.  "From our inaugural season at M2, to move to M1 so quickly, play through a global pandemic, host a national tournament, win a regular-season conference championship, win a conference tournament championship, win the program's first national tournament game, and challenge a perennial powerhouse in Iowa State in their senior year, it's unbelievable what they did. As their coach, I could not be more proud of them and the foundation they have laid for our program. We are forever grateful for their foundational efforts and their trust in our mission as a program. We will never be able to thank them enough."
 
The Saints will be back in action next Fall, starting with an opening night matchup against the McKendree Bearcats in late September. The 2022-23 season will mark Maryville's first season with five ACHA teams. Maryville will field three men's teams and two women's teams. The M1 Saints will be playing their inaugural season in the CSCHL, considered to be the best conference in ACHA Men's 1 hockey, next season.
 
For more information or interest in being a Saint, contact Director of Hockey John Hogan at jhogan3@maryville.edu.