Box Score

SCHENECTADY, NY - The Union women's ice hockey team opened the home season at Messa Rink in style Saturday, with a dominating 9-2 victory over Sacred Heart in non-league action. Union is now 1-2 on the young season.

Sophomore Stefanie Thomson produced the go-ahead goal five minutes into the second period.  The forward earned three points, tallying two goals and an assist.  After her first game of the seaosn, she now moves to second place for the Dutchwomen for most points.

Union poured 20 shots on net in the first period, with a 20-1 shot advantage after the first 20 minutes.  Senior Lauren Hoffman and sophomore Mac Purvis scored for Union within a minute of each other at 10:25 and 11:21 of the first. Freshman Kelly McGrath set up Hoffman's score while Thomson dished to Purvis for her first goal of the season.  The assist of Hoffman's first goal of the season was McGrath's first career point.  Freshman Meagan Souza put the Pioneers on the board at 17:37 of the first, with an assist going to sophomore Sara Hanna, and it was 2-1 Union after one.

The Pioneers then tied the game at 9:28 of the second on a goal by freshman Brianna Connolly, assisted by freshman Alanna Woodford. But the Dutchwomen took over from there, scoring the next two in the period for a 4-2 advantage. Thomson put Union back on top for good at 15:36 of the second, assisted by Purvis and sophomore Maddy Norton.  She then seized the momentum for the Dutchwomen with a goal assisted by junior Nicole Bartlett and sophomore Ashley Johnston, with just 26 seconds remaining before the intermission.

Junior Rhianna Kurio quickly added to the lead 49 seconds into the third, with help from freshman Christine Valente and Norton.  The forward dangled the puck through Sacred Heart's defense before burying the shot.  She then scored again on the power play at 7:26, set up by Hoffman and freshman Bryanne Panchuk. 

Panchuk added a goal of her own at 11:18, set up by junior Jeannie Sabourin and senior Kayleigh Melia, for an 8-2 lead.  It was the freshman's first career goal, and she now moves to first place for the Dutchwomen for greatest amount of points.  Senior Émilie Arseneault lit the lamp for Union less than two minutes before Panchuk, earning a unassisted goal.  Molly Kate Devin closed out the scoring at 15:57, with Sabourin and Panchuk each picking up another assist.

Alexius Schutt made 56 saves for the Pioneers, and Alexis Molotky added 10 saves on as many shots in relief.  Shenae Lundberg stopped one shot, earning the win for the Dutchwomen, while Alana Marcinko made 10 stops.  Union outshot Sacred Heart 75-8, and no less than 14 players earned at least one point Saturday. 

The Dutchwomen head to Boston next weekend for two non-league games. Union plays Northeastern on Friday, October 14th, at 3:00 p.m. and Boston University on Saturday, October 15th, at 4:00 p.m.