Grand Rapids, Mich. – Thank goodness! The monkey is off the back of the Saints — they have their first win of the 2025–26 campaign, and now the AQ squad can finally focus on getting better without the pressure of chasing that elusive first victory. Friday night was a tough loss on the road, but the Saints bounced back in thrilling fashion on Saturday, scoring early, battling through adversity, spending nearly the entire second period in the penalty box, and ultimately finding a way to come from behind for a dramatic third-period win at Southside Ice Arena.

Friday: Lawrence Tech 2, Aquinas 0

On Friday in Redford, the Saints skated toe-to-toe with Lawrence Tech through much of the contest but couldn't find the back of the net in a hard-fought 2–0 defeat. Goaltender Jean Berthaudin kept AQ close, stopping 34 shots and holding the Blue Devils scoreless through the first period. Captain Brendan Bourne led the offensive charge alongside linemates Xavier Erickson and Zachary Burns, who combined for multiple scoring chances but were denied by the LTU goaltender. Defensemen Easton Pratt and Logan Boettcher anchored the back line with strong positioning, while Arseniy Malyutin and Cooper Nienhuis delivered key blocks to limit Lawrence Tech's looks. Despite the outcome, the Saints' effort showed progress, with improved puck movement and defensive structure that set the stage for what was to come.

Saturday: Aquinas 3, Lawrence Tech 2

Saturday night in Byron Center belonged to the Saints, who finally broke through with their first victory of the season. Xavier Erickson struck first midway through the opening frame, finishing a feed from Brendan Bourne and Alex Johnson to give AQ an early lead. The second period, however, tested the Saints' discipline, as a string of penalties kept them shorthanded for much of the frame. Lawrence Tech capitalized twice to take a 2–1 advantage, but Aquinas refused to fold. Late in the period, Zachary Burns buried a rebound off a setup from Easton Pratt to tie the game, setting up a high-energy third period.

In the final frame, the Saints' persistence paid off as Bourne found the net in the closing minutes on a slick assist from Erickson to seal the 3–2 comeback win. Berthaudin was stellar again in goal, turning aside 42 shots to secure the milestone victory. Bourne, Erickson, and Burns all finished with a goal and an assist in the effort, while Pratt and Johnson each picked up helpers. After 11 straight losses to start the season, the Saints finally broke through — a well-earned first win that lifted the spirits of the entire AQ bench. With the triumph, Aquinas improved to 1–11 overall and 1–4 in ACHA Division I WHAC play.

Inside the Numbers (Combined Two Games)
     • 76 – Total saves by goaltender Jean Berthaudin across both contests.
     • 3 – Goals scored by the trio of Bourne, Erickson, and Burns in Saturday's win.
     • 8 – Different Saints recorded either a goal, assist, or point over the weekend.
     • 10 – Penalties killed during Saturday's penalty-filled second period.
     • 1 – First win of the 2025–26 season for the Saints.

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Brandon Rozema spoke about how proud he is of this squad and how happy he is that the extra effort and hard work resulted in a 'W':
"This group has shown a lot of heart through some tough weeks. We've been working hard every day, and to see that effort finally turn into a win is special. It's a huge step forward for us — the confidence, the chemistry, and the belief are starting to take hold. I'm proud of the way our guys battled for each other and stayed resilient."

Up Next
The Saints will return to action on Halloween as they begin a home-and-home with Central Michigan. The Saints will be in Mt. Pleasant for a 4:30 p.m. faceoff before returning home to finish the two-game series on Saturday at Southside Ice Arena at 7:30 p.m. on November 1. The Saturday game will be streamed on the AQ Saints YouTube Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call. Be sure to check out AQSaints.com for more information, stats, and a recap of all the action.