SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's ice hockey team has announced its incoming recruiting class for the upcoming season, with six first-year players and four transfers set to join the program for the 2024-25 school year. The class is made up of student-athletes from three countries, two provinces and five states, and includes five forwards, four blueliners and one goaltender, all of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the program.

This year's class is the largest incoming class for the program since 2017 and the 10 newcomers will look to continue the great strides taken by the program in recent years. The women's hockey team won 11 games and earned its first-ever win over a nationally ranked team during the 2022-23 season, and the team's 19 victories over the last two seasons are the most in a two-year span in the program's Division I era. 

Snapshots of the incoming class are below:
 
Mikayla Blomquist • Sophomore • 5-7 • Forward • Shoots: R • Lake Country, British Columbia • RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (CSSHL) • Boston University (HEA)
 
Prior to Union: Played in 15 games for Boston University as a first-year, taking nine shots … played three years for RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna, skating alongside Union classmate Maddie Leaney in 2022-23 … ranked third on the team in assists and averaged nearly a point per game in the regular season with eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points in 30 games in her final season … had two assists in the postseason to help RHA Kelowna to a second straight CSSHL U18 Prep Championship … served as assistant captain and scored the game-winning goal in the final to deliver Team British Columbia its first gold medal at the 2023 Canada Winter Games … invited to a pair of Team Canada U-18 summer showcases.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because of the well-respected academics and the culture the coaching staff is building. Union has an incredible support system and it felt like I would be part of a family. I am thrilled to get to be a part of the Union family and help grow the program into a top competitor in the NCAA.

Sara Da Silva • First-Year • 5-4 • Goaltender • Catches: L • Toronto, Ontario • Toronto Leaside Wildcats (OWHL)
 
Prior to Union: Played for the Toronto Leaside Wildcats of the Ontario Women's Hockey League … appeared in 16 games during the 2023-24 season, posting a 6-9-0 record with a 3.92 goals against average and .876 save percentage … also captained the Bishop Strachan School to a third straight Hewitt Cup and earned team MVP honors in 2024.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because of the incredible academic and athletic opportunities available and the close-knit community of a small liberal arts college. When I visited Union, I was impressed by the warm welcome from everyone on campus, and I knew it was a place where I could thrive both academically and athletically while contributing to the growing hockey program.
 
Quinn Dunkle • Sophomore • 5-10 • Defense • Shoots: R • Cedar Rapids, Iowa • North American Hockey Academy (JWHL) • University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)
 
Prior to Union: Skated in 36 games on Minnesota Duluth as a first-year, recording one assist and four blocked shots from the blue line … played her previous two seasons at North American Hockey Academy … scored one goal with 11 assists for 12 points in 55 games in her final season, earning All-JWHL honors and helping the team to a JWHL title alongside Union classmate Megan Ognibene … had five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 2021-22 … named to the 2019 USA U-15 and 2021 USA U-18 Select Camp roster ... also a Iowa individual golf state qualifier for Linn Mar High School in 2023.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because I was an immediate fan of the school atmosphere, and the combination of athletics and academics made it an easy choice. Union provides a great balance of a good hockey program where I can grow my game while getting a life-changing education at a school with such a rich history.

Karianne Engelbert • First-Year • 5-10 • Forward • Shoots: L • Whitby, Ontario • Durham West Jr. Lightning (OWHL)
 
Prior to Union: Spent three seasons playing in the Ontario Women's Hockey League, including the last two with the Durham West Jr. Lightning … scored 35 goals with 39 assists for 74 points in 78 games over two seasons with the Lightning … third on the team in scoring with a line of 16-26-42 during the 2023-24 season … helped the team to a Provincial championship in 2023 and a OWHL title in 2024.

Why Union: I chose Union because of the immediate sense of family after stepping on campus. The amazing coaching staff, faculty and Union community welcomed me with an immense amount of support and encouragement. I wanted to push myself academically as well as on the ice and Union was the perfect fit.
 
Lauren Johnson • First-Year • 5-7 • Defense • Shoots: R • Sun Prairie, Wisc. • North American Hockey Academy (JWHL)
 
Prior to Union: Spent the 2023-24 season with the North American Hockey Academy in the Junior Women's Hockey League … recorded one goal and 10 assists for 11 points from the blue line, helping the team to a JWHL title … captained the team at Culver Academy in 2022-23 and scored 13 goals with 31 assists in two seasons with the Eagles … named to the Wisconsin Prep Hockey Freshman Girls All-State Team with the Madison Metro Lynx in 2020.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because of its academic prestige, small student-to-teacher ratio, competitive Division I hockey program, beautiful campus, and peers and staff that care about each other.
 
Klara Kenttälä • First-Year • 5-7 • Forward • Shoots: L • Stockholm, Sweden • Lulea HF (SDHL)
 
Prior to Union: Has spent the last four years playing for Lulea HF of the Swedish Women's Hockey League … represented Sweden at the 2022 IIHF Women's U-18 World Championships, playing in six games and helping the team to a fourth-place finish … has played in 19 total games representing her country in U-18 competition, including earning a silver medal at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games … helped Lulea for four straight SDHL championships … scored six goals with seven assists for 13 points in 65 games for Lulea over the last two regular seasons.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because it feels like a safe environment to grow and develop in. College has always been a huge dream of mine, and to be able to attend a school that feels so familiar and warm but also gives me the opportunity to play the sport I love is really a dream come true.
 
Giavanna Mancy • First-Year • 5-9 • Defense • Shoots: L • Toledo, Ohio • Shattuck-St. Mary's
 
Prior to Union: Spent the 2023-24 season with Shattuck-St. Mary's School, scoring six goals with 11 assists for 17 points in 54 games … previously skated for two years with the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, netting seven goals with nine assists for 16 points in her final season.
 
Why Union: The environment that the people create on campus is so inviting. I also can already tell that spending four years at Union with not only grow my hockey career but also allow me to make the connections that will help me in the near future.
 
Mallory Mauracher • Junior • 5-7 • Forward • Shoots: L • Celina, Ohio • Pittsburgh Penguins Elite • Quinnipiac University (ECAC)
 
Prior to Union: Played two seasons at Quinnipiac University, skating in 21 games for the Bobcats … scored one goal in each of her first two collegiate campaigns … spent her final prep season with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U-19 team in 2020-21 and attended the Kent School … captained the hockey and lacrosse teams at Kent and was named the best Female Athlete in her class.
 
Why Union: I choose Union because it is a great place to be and will be the change I need. When I visited the people and campus were so welcoming. I felt like this was somewhere I could see myself and I am so excited to be coming to a place that will support me so well on and off the ice.
 
Brigitte McGuire • First-Year • 5-6 • Defense • Shoots: L • Stamford, Conn. • Shattuck-St. Mary's • University of Connecticut (HEA)
 
Prior to Union: Attended the University of Connecticut as a first-year but did not play in any games … played three seasons at Shattuck St. Mary's from 2020-23 … recorded four goals and 26 assists for 30 points from the blue line in her final season, ranking fifth on the team in assists and helping the team to a USA Hockey national title.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because of the academic opportunities along with the ability to continue playing hockey. When I first visited the campus, I could immediately feel how tight-knit the community is and that was very appealing to me. Everyone was beyond friendly and I instantly saw myself fitting in with the team.
 
Jill Willis • First-Year • 5-2 • Forward • Shoots: R • South Glens Falls, N.Y. • Bishop Kearney Selects
 
Prior to Union: Played for the Bishop Kearney Selects for the last two seasons … helped the team to a pair of USA Hockey National Championship appearances … had three goals and three assists in six games during the 2024 national championships, including a goal to give her team a lead in the title game.
 
Why Union: I chose Union because of the amazing community and people that make Union feel so special to me. The support from the community, professors, teammates and coaches is outstanding. As soon as I stepped on campus for the first time I knew that this is where I wanted to be for the next four years.

The incoming class will join new head coach Tony Maci in representing the garnet and white for the first time on Friday, September 27 at Robert Morris University and will play their first game at Messa Rink on Friday, October 4 against Rochester Institute of Technology.