SCHENECTADY, NY - The Union women's ice hockey team open the 2012-2013 season with a 3-2 victory over Connecticut at Messa Rink Saturday afternoon.

After being deadlocked at two entering the third period, Christine Valente scored the game deciding goal on the power play with the assists coming from Stefanie Thomson and Ashley Johnston.

Goaltender Alana Marcinko earned the win as she made 30 saves on 32 shots. Huskies netminder Elaine Chuli converted 27 saves on 30 shots.

Special teams play was vital to both sides throughout the game as four of the game's five goals were scored on the power play. Connecticut struck first while on the man-advantage as the Huskies took advantage of a hooking call that sent Stefanie Thomson to the penalty box. UConn's Rachel Farrel skated into the offensive zone and fired a shot over the left shoulder of Alana Marcinko to give UConn the early lead.

Union was able to respond on the power play as Erin Burns was sent to the penalty box for a checking call. The Dutchwomen answered right back as freshman forward Jessica Kaminsky scored her first career goal on a rebound to tie the game at 1-1. Sophomore forward Bryanne Panchuk fed senior forward Rhianna Kurio in front. Kurio's initial two shots from just outside the goalmouth were stopped, but Kaminsky poked in the rebound to tie the game.

The Huskies had the man-advantage in the final minutes of the first period as Connecticut's Caitlin Hewes scored with seven seconds remaining in the period to give UConn the lead heading into the break. Hewes scored from a wide angle on a rebound off a shot from Michela Cava. Kayla Campero was also credited with an assist on the play.

Both teams began to settle in defensively as both netminders kept the score at 2-1 with great goaltending from both sides. With 11:36 remaining in the third period, Emma Rambo was able to level the score at two with the assist by Haley Welch and Courtney Turner. The Dutchwomen were able to go on the power play for the third time but could not find the back of the net. Chuli kept the score level at two entering the third period.

The Huskies found themselves in penalty trouble three times in the third period as Emily Snoodgrass, Alice Hughes and Maude Blain all served minutes in the opening 10 minutes. The Huskies were able to kill off the first two penalties with superb goaltending by Chuli. However, after a faceoff in the attacking third, Christine Valente sniped in a shot that finally surpassed Chuli to give Union a 3-2 lead with 10:19 remaining.

Marcinko and the Dutchmen defense held off the Huskies attack as they pressured Union with a flurry of shots. Connecticut was able to go on the power play with a little more than two minutes remaining and pulled their netminder off to create a six on four attack for the Huskies. Despite their efforts, the Dutchwomen kept the Huskies at bay and won their season opener.

Union will have a week off before they travel to Boston, Mass. to take on Northeastern and Boston University October 12 and 13. The Huskies will be in action next week as they play RPI in Troy, N.Y. on October 5 and 6.