Post Game Media

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's hockey team rung in the New Year with a record-setting performance in a 6-1 win over the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College on Monday afternoon from Messa Rink. The Dutchwomen set a new single-season wins record in the Division I era with their 10th victory of the season.

Junior Celeste Beaudoin had a record setting day for the Dutchwomen, tallying five assists to set a new program record for assists in a game. The previous record was held by Erin Vehec '05 when she had four assists in a game against Sacred Heart on October 24, 2004. Beaudoin also tied the school's Division I single-game points record with five, tying Vehec and Suzy Pocock '09 (November 3, 2006 vs. Sacred Heart).

Sophomore Sophie Matsoukas also made history in between the pipes for Union, becoming the program's all-time wins leader in a single season with her 10th victory of the season. Matsoukas was previously tied with Dana Smullyan (2002-03) and Shanae Lundberg (2013-14), who both had nine.

The Dutchwomen also set a program record for power-play goals in a game, going a perfect 4-4 on the power-play.

The victory also ties head coach Josh Sciba with Claudia Asano Barcomb with 36 wins all-time in his seventh season on the bench of the Dutchwomen.

Six different Dutchwomen scored this afternoon: junior Meredith Killian, sophomores Maya Jones and Maddie Suitor, and first-years Amanda Quan, Riley Walsh and Stephanie Bourque. Bourque added three assists for a four-point afternoon, Walsh had a pair of helpers for a three-point afternoon, and Suitor and first-year Reese Chuback both added an assist as well.

After a choppy start from both sides, the Purple Knights found the back of the net first, and grabbed a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.

The Dutchwomen responded well and answered back 70 seconds later to tie the game. The Dutchwomen earned a power-play following a tripping call. Quan won the face-off cleanly back to Bourque, who drifted to the right and wristed a shot that caught the cross bar. Quan buried the rebound just six seconds into the power-play for her fourth goal of the season.

With just under three minutes to play in the period, Union scored their second power-play goal of the afternoon. Bourque swung a point-to-point pass over to Beaudoin, who delivered a pass to Suitor along the goal line. Suitor walked along the line with no pressure and snuck a shot in between the post and the netminder's glove to give Union their first lead of the afternoon. This goal was Suitor's second of the season and the eventual game-winning goal.

Union out shot St. Michael's 18-7 in the period and were a perfect 2-2 on the power-play. The Dutchwomen led 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Union dominated play in the second period. Union was awarded a third power-play opportunity after Walsh drove the net and was tripped down trying to cut inside. As time expired in the power-play, Bourque whipped a shot at the goal and found the back of the net through a screen. This was Bourque's first collegiate goal and the team's third power-play goal. Suitor and Beaudoin chipped in with helpers on the goal.

Killian jumped in on the scoring four minutes later. Walsh and Beaudoin worked a cycle nicely in the corner before Beaudoin delivered a pass to Killian. Killian worked over to the slot and fired a shot that beat the net-minder for her third goal of the season.

In the third period, it was more of the same from the Dutchwomen. Union earned another power-play opportunity on a hooking call. Beaudoin worked a pass up to Bourque for a shot from the point. Her shot hit the cross bar and Walsh buried the loose puck past a sliding left pad for Union's fourth power-play goal. This was Walsh's team-leading 11th goal of the season, tying her for 10th place on the school single-season goals list.

The Dutchwomen scored their sixth goal of the afternoon thanks to Jones. Chuback won a puck battle in the corner and back handed a pass to Beaudoin, who spun and found a streaking Jones in the slot. Jones did not miss and buried her first collegiate goal to make it 6-1.

Union out shot St. Michael's 63-14, marking only the third game in its Division I history with 60-plus shots on goal. Union was a perfect 4-4 on the power-play and went 1-1 on their lone penalty kill. Matsoukas was great in net when she had to be, stopping 13 of 14 shots on goal in her 10th win of the season.

Union (10-9-1) will get back on the road for ECAC action as they travel to Ithaca, N.Y. to take on the Big Red of Cornell. Puck drop for that game is set for 6 p.m. from Lynah Rink.