CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – Sam Edwards scored four goals including the game-winner in overtime on Saturday to secure a 1-1 weekend split with No. 15 Illinois State University. A 7-6 overtime victory helped the Saints to their seventh win in their last nine games as they begin their second-semester schedule.
 
Will Smith got the scoring started on Friday evening with his fourth goal of the season at 4:53 in the first period. The Redbirds responded less than three minutes later with a powerplay goal followed by a three-goal second period. Smith tallied his second of the game short-handed at 5:49 in the third period before ISU goalie Brendon Donovan secured a 4-2 win for ISU with a 43-save performance.
 
The Saints got on the board early in the first period of game two on Saturday on a Sam Edwards goal assisted by Smith and Timon Prexler. Brett Ursulak broke a 1-1 tie later in the first period with his seventh of the season.
 
ISU opened up the second period with a powerplay goal, followed by a short-handed goal from Jackson Zloty, another Redbird powerplay goal, and Edwards' second goal. Matt Garcia, however, took a feed from Logan Martinson and buried a shot in the second minute of the third period to knot the game back at four.
 
Edwards completed the hat trick just 30 seconds later off helpers from Lucas Adams and Colt Corpse. Adams then gave the Saints some breathing room with a goal of his own at 5:22. ISU continued to fight throughout the third, getting an Ethan Chesney goal at 11:10 and the equalizer from Mike Sliwinski with eight seconds left in the game.
 
In overtime, Edwards took a pass from Prexler, carried the puck through the neutral zone, split the Redbird defenders, and rifled a wrist shot past the goalie for a 7-6 Saints win.
 
The homestand continues this weekend with a Friday night matchup against No. 13 Grand Valley State University at 8 p.m. The second game on Saturday will begin at 5 p.m.