HAMDEN, Conn. - Senior Emma Hebert broke Union women's hockey's Ironman streak, setting a new career games played record playing in her 137th career game while junior Stephanie Bourque scored her eighth goal of the season, breaking the single-season record for most goals by a defenseman in Union's women's hockey 3-1 loss to #10/9 Quinnipiac University at M&T Bank Arena in Hamden, Connecticut, on Saturday afternoon.

Union (12-21-1) wrapped up the regular season tied for ninth place with RPI (14-17-3), following the Engineers' victory over #12/13 Princeton (17-10-2) Saturday afternoon. However, due to winning the tiebreaker, Union will claim the ninth spot in the ECAC conference standings. The Garnet Chargers are now set to face eighth-seeded Brown University (14-11-3) in a single-elimination first-round playoff game on Saturday afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island at 3:00 pm.

In the first period, Quinnipiac applied early offensive pressure, but Union responded with a strong defensive effort, highlighted by 11 blocked shots. Senior goaltender Sophie Matsoukas also made key saves to keep the score tied at zero.

Union had several strong chances, including a point-blank opportunity from former Bobcat and junior Mallory Mauracher with five minutes remaining in the first period, but Quinnipiac goalie Kayle Doyle came up with an excellent save.

The Bobcats finished the period edging the Garnet Chargers in shots 10-3.

In the second period, both teams came out with strong chances from the start. Seven minutes into the frame, Quinnipiac earned a power play, but Matsoukas came up with several key saves to keep the game tied at zero.

Union and Quinnipiac finished the period with four on four action as penalties were assessed to both Quinnipiac and Union, but neither team scored. 

The Garnet Chargers and Bobcats concluded the remainder of the time on four on four in the first 40 seconds of the third period. 

Four minutes later, Quinnipiac opened the scoring. Kahlen Lamarche sent a pass from the bottom of the goal line to Bryn Prier at the top of the crease and fired the puck into the right corner of the net.

Five minutes later, the Bobcats scored their second goal of the evening. Maddy Samoskevich fired a shot through traffic into the top of the net.

However, a penalty on Quinnipiac a minute later, set up Bourque to split half the lead in half netting her single-season record goal. After receiving a pass from Friday, Bourque fired a shot from the top of the slot through traffic into the back of the net.

Quinnipiac earned one more power play opportunity with eight minutes remaining but a good Union effort prevented the Bobcats from capitalizing. 

Union pulled Matsoukas with just over a minute to go but Quinnipiac scored the empty netter with 46 seconds left in regulation to secure the 3-1 victory.

Matsoukas delivered another solid performance concluding the game with 47 saves and a .957 SV%.

The Garnet Chargers begin playoff action next Saturday at the eighth seed, Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. Puck drop is set for 3:00 pm.