ST. LOUIS – In the frozen confines of the Maryville Ice Hockey Center, the Maryville W1 hockey team made big noise last night, downing the No. 1-ranked Liberty Flames 3-1. The Saints scored in all three periods with Avery Falardeau, Haley Beckett and Sarah Brooks being responsible for the scoring. Hannah Tresek was nearly perfect on the day, recording 32 saves on 33 attempts in the win.
 
The win marked the first time the Saints have prevailed over the Flames in the programs' history. They made it close early this season, falling overtime 2-1 on Nov. 1.
 
"Tonight, the coaching staff preached work smarter not harder in certain areas of the ice," said Head Coach Tom Lange.  "I thought our back pressure through the Neutral Zone and our forecheck was relentless tonight which caused lots of trouble leading to turnovers for us tonight. We were able to take advantage of those and turn them into goals."
 

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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints, looking upset hungry, took to the aggression early with a goal at the 8th minute of action, that coming from Falardeau, with Sydney Poisson and Sarah Brooks picking up assists. Just like the first period, it was early action for the Saints in the second as they put it between the pipes at the 4th minute for what ended up being the game winner.
 
The Flames responded quickly, bringing it back to a one-goal game just a minute later. The final dagger in the match came with an empty Flames net as Brooks converted on passes by Elle Rutherford and Emma Gerwitz, completing the win with a goal at the 19th minute of the third period.
 
COACHES' CORNER
Lange on the teams win…
"Hannah Tresek was outstanding in the pipes tonight. She made some huge saves for us to not allow them to tie the game late in the 3rd period! Tonight's win was a great taste of what playoff hockey is going to be like! The effort for 60 minutes tonight is what it's going to take as a team if we want to continue to build to compete for a National Championship in March."
 
UP NEXT
The Saints have a big rivalry bout with the McKendree Bearcats, playing in Lebanon, Ill. on Feb. 1 and then at home on Feb. 2.