SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year Sophie Matsoukas stopped 20 shots en route to her first collegiate shutout, while four different Dutchwomen found the back of the net as the Union College women's hockey team cruised to a 4-0 shutout win over Franklin Pierce University on Friday evening at Messa Rink.

Matsoukas made 20 saves in her first collegiate shutout, the first for the Dutchwomen since a 2-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the 2020 Mayor's Cup. The 4-0 victory is the second-largest shutout win in the program's Division I history, behind only a 6-0 win over Sacred Heart University on October 16, 2008.

Junior Carmen Merlo and first-year Maddie Suitor led the way for Union offensively with two points apiece, with both players registering a goal and an assist.

Junior Olivia Groulx found the back of the net in the first period on the power-play. Senior Grace Heiting drove to the net with the puck and took a shot that was initially stopped. First-year Ashley Adams shoveled the puck across the net and Groulx made sure to finish the shot off. This was Groulx's first goal of the season.

Union added their second goal of the first period with just 12.3 seconds left on the clock when Merlo scored to make it 2-0 Union. Junior Emily King threw a shot on the net and Suitor redirected the shot to an open Merlo for her second goal of the season. This goal was also on the power-play. Union outshot the Ravens 16-2 in the first period and was 2-for-2 on the power-play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

In the second period, Union continued to pour it on. First-year Maren Friday scored on a wrap around, extending the lead to 3-0. Sophomore Celeste Beaudoin connected with sophomore Josie McLeod on a cross-ice pass and McLeod fired a shot that was saved, but Friday followed the rebound up and stuffed the puck inside the post on a wrap around.

Union was not done there. Suitor tallied her fourth goal of the season on the power-play. The first-year made it 4-0 Union after receiving a pass from Merlo and following up her initial shot and jamming in the rebound. Senior Cassidy Michalicka and Merlo were credited with the assists.  

Union out shot Franklin Pierce 48-20 in the win. This is the second time Union has crossed the 40-shot mark this season, the first coming against RIT on October 1. Union went 3-for-5 on the power-play and is the first time since 2016 that Union scored three times on the advantage

Union will get back on the ice one last time in 2021 when they play host to Franklin Pierce on Saturday afternoon at Messa Rink. Puck drop is at 3 p.m.