CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – Maryville M1 hockey earned a two-game sweep over the first-ranked Minot State University Beavers over the weekend. The Saints responded to a Thursday overtime loss against the University of Arizona with a pair of wins over the reigning American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) champions on Friday and Saturday.
 
The men improved their overall record in 2023-24 to 21-9-2 as they continue building steam heading into the ACHA National Tournament beginning on Thursday, March 7, at the Centene Community Ice Center in Chesterfield, Mo.
 
Tyler Shetland got Arizona going on Thursday with a first-period goal, but Maryville bounced back with Félix Turcotte's third goal of the season at 7:13. Trailing again early in the third period, Lucas Adams found the back of the net off a helper from Garrett Hunter to tie the game. In overtime, Sam Myers beat the Saints goalie 19 seconds in to give the Wildcats a 3-2 win.
 
Jaxon White jumped on Minot State immediately on Friday, scoring his third of the year 46 seconds in on assists from Jackson Zloty and Josh Olson. Sam Edwards doubled the lead at 8:41 on the power play for his 20^th of the season.
 
The Beavers responded in the second with goals from Joey Moffatt and Walker Jerome. Still tied at two with under two minutes remaining in the third period, Campbell McLean took a pass from Olson and batted it out of the air by the goalie for the game-winner. Lucas Bain picked up the 3-2 victory in goal with 24 saves.
 
Maryville fell behind early on Saturday thanks to a Reece Henry goal in the first period. Edwards tallied his 21^st of the season at 2:14 in the second to tie the game. Hunter Floris put the Saints ahead with a goal at 11:31 in the third, but another Minot State tally forced overtime. In the shootout, Timon Prexler scored a goal and Bain stopped all three shots to earn a 3-2 win and a sweep of the Beavers.
 
"I think Thursday was a wakeup call for us to find our game and find it quickly," said Head Men's Hockey Coach John Hogan. "The effort and execution we gave Thursday was not going to be near enough against Minot. I was immensely proud of the game we played Friday. Might have been the best game we have played standing behind the Maryville bench. On Saturday, we weren't nearly as good but weathered some storms we knew were coming. The game we put together on Saturday was good preparation for the National Tournament. It is not always going to be pretty – and it wasn't Saturday. But we found a way to win."
 
The regular season ends this weekend as the Saints welcome the Missouri State Ice Bears to the Maryville University Hockey Center. Friday, Feb. 16, will be Lonnie Folks Night celebrating the career of the Maryville Athletic Director who has been instrumental in building the hockey program at Maryville. Saturday night will be Senior Night honoring seniors TJ Prexler, Ben McArthur, and Ed Coffey. Both puck drops are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.