Maryville University Athletics

CANTON, N.Y. – A historic road trip ended with a sweep for Maryville ice hockey as the Saints took down St. Lawrence on Friday and Saturday in their first series against NCAA Division I opposition.

Maryville rallied from a two-goal deficit to win Friday's opener 3-2 behind a pair of goals from Antoine Dorion and a late game-winner from Gustavs Ozolins. The Saints completed the sweep Saturday with a 3-1 victory, getting goals from Anthony Hall, Dorion and Blake Pilgrim-Edwards.

The battle of Saints versus Saints paired programs at vastly different points in their histories. St. Lawrence began play in the 1925-26 season, while Maryville is embarking on its inaugural NCAA Division I transition season.

"St. Lawrence is a historic college hockey program, and we really appreciate the hospitality they showed us all weekend," Head Coach John Hogan said. "It certainly wasn't pretty all the time, but our guys found ways to make timely plays and get big saves when we needed them. I'm really proud of our players and staff, and happy for all the people who have supported us and helped get Maryville Hockey to this point. To come on the road and earn a weekend sweep is a pretty special way to start our transition season."

FRIDAY – Maryville 3, St. Lawrence 2
Facing their first NCAA Division I opponent of the season, the Saints found themselves on their heels early. St. Lawrence fired off four shots before Maryville could establish an offensive presence.

Brett Ursulak registered Maryville's first attempts at 4:34, sending a pair of shots toward the net. St. Lawrence withstood the push before earning a power play at 6:09 and converting just over a minute later for a 1-0 lead.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the second period, turning a missed Maryville shot into a scoring chance at the other end. The two-goal margin held until late in the period, when Dorion sparked the comeback with a short-handed goal off an assist from Campbell Mclean.

Dorion struck again on the power play at 8:39 of the third, pulling Maryville even with assists from Hall and Tanner Bruender.

With just 1:01 remaining, Ozolins delivered the deciding blow. Adam Timm and Dorion set him up for the game-winning goal at 18:59, completing the Saints' comeback.

Ursulak and Dorion led Maryville with five shots apiece. Bruno Bruveris earned the win with 27 saves, including 12 in the opening period.

SATURDAY – Maryville 3, St. Lawrence 1
Maryville needed just seven seconds to cash in on its first power play. After a St. Lawrence roughing penalty at 5:18 of the opening period, Hall found the net at 5:25 off assists from Simanovics and Bruender to put Maryville ahead.

The Saints protected that early edge through a pair of first-period penalties, keeping St. Lawrence from registering a shot on goal during either power play. Bruveris stopped all seven shots he faced in the frame as Maryville carried a 1-0 lead into the break.

Neither side broke through in the second period, though both came close. St. Lawrence struck the pipe midway through the frame, and Maxwell Wagener did the same for Maryville just over two minutes later.

The Saints generated a late offensive push, finishing the period with eight shots on goal, but the lead remained one. A St. Lawrence cross-checking penalty at the horn gave Maryville a power play to open the third.

Dorion made that opportunity count just 51 seconds into the final period, doubling the lead with Bruender and Simanovics again providing the assists.

St. Lawrence answered at 3:42 to trim the margin to 2-1, then kept Bruveris busy in pursuit of the equalizer. The Maryville netminder made four saves in a stretch of just over two minutes following the goal, keeping the Saints in front.

Maryville's penalty kill took over from there. The Saints weathered a penalty at 11:16, with Simanovics and Adam Timm combining for three blocks during the ensuing power play. Another penalty with 3:40 remaining put the lead under pressure again, but Maryville denied St. Lawrence a shot on goal throughout the two-minute advantage.

With the home side's net empty for an extra attacker, Pilgrim-Edwards put the game away at 18:50 off a feed from Dorion. Maryville then killed one final abbreviated power play to close out the victory.

Bruveris picked up his second win in as many days, earning 26 saves on 27 shots. 

UP NEXT
The Saints have a fun matchup on their docket next as they head to New Haven, Conn. for a battle with the Ivy League's Yale Bulldogs. The Saints battle the Bulldogs Friday, Oct. 16 with puck drop set for 6 p.m.