Despite the loss, Union made a strong performance off the gate starting with freshman forward Emma Rambo. With a little help from senior forward Marissa Gentile and freshman forward Rhianna Kurio, Rambo scored Union's first goal of the season 2:15 into the third period.  

 

Rambo's performance was good enough to have her selected ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week.

 

However Rambo was not the only freshman to have made her debut. Freshman Alana Marcinko made her first start in front of the goal, taking the position once held by now-graduated Lundy Day, who set the school record with 2,262 saves in just two seasons at Union. Marcinko's start was very impressive, making 35 saves in all three periods she played.

 

Union's opponent this weekend, Vermont, will opening its 2009-10 season after being picked to finish seventh in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Catamounts finished 8-25-1 overall and 5-15-1 in the Hockey East last season.

 

The Catamounts will be relying on junior Peggy Wakeham to lead the team to a Hockey East prominence. Wakeham led the team in scoring last season with 22 points last season, scoring six goals and 16 assists. Helping Wakeham this season will be sophomore Erin Barley-Maloney, who was named to the East Hockey All-Rookie team last year. Barley-Maloney recorded 21 points with six goals and 15 assists in her freshman year.

 

Vermont will also have new four new faces on the team with defense Maggie Walsh, forwards Emily Walsh and Erin Wente and goalie Ilana Friedman joining the team.