SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – With the three road games behind it, the Union College women's ice hockey team will open the home side of the 2009-10 season schedule against Sacred Heart on Friday and Saturday. Fans can catch the game through live stats and through live web stream video at unionathletics.com.

Now having the experience playing on the road, six freshmen will get to experience playing at Messa Rink this weekend. The leading freshman, forward Emma Rambo, has already gotten off to a good start by scoring the first goal on the season at Northeastern on Oct. 3.

Goaltender Alana Marcinko will also get her first performance on the home ice after starting the last three games on the road. Marcinko has already established herself in ECAC Hockey, making 80 saves in three games to put her on top in that category.

The Pioneers return to action this weekend after being idle for nearly two weeks. Their last game was on Oct. 3, in a 4-1 loss to ECACH member Quinnipiac. Sacred Heart is approaching the heart of their eight-game season-opening road trip.

Sacred Heart has one senior this year, Kate Dunlop, who has 36 goals and 25 assists in her career. However the team is loaded with eight newcomers, six of them are forwards.

The Dutchwomen have been dominating against the Pioneers, having won 14 and tied one in the 21 games played.