SCHENECTADY, NY - The Union Dutchwomen open their 2012-13 season Saturday September 29 at Messa Rink against the Connecticut Huskies with a faceoff time at 4:00 p.m. Follow Union Women's Hokcey on Twitter at UnionWHokcey beginning at 3:30 p.m. for live updates between the Dutchwomen and the Huskies.
This will be the fourth time these programs have met which Connecticut leads the all-time series with a 2-0-1 record.
Last Time
The Dutchwomen tied the Huskies 2-2 at the Freitas Ice Forum back on Jan. 10, 2012.
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Then junior Jeannie Sabourin and Rhianna Kurio both scored-game tying goals for the Dutchwomen.
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All of the goals were scored in the second period.
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Union outshot the Huskies in the first two periods of play 26-15, including a 13-4 advantage in the first period.
Scouting Connecticut
The Huskies finished 4-23-7 last season and were 1-4-4 against ECAC opponents.
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Emily Snodgrass returns to the Huskies after leading UConn with 21 points as a rookie.
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Also returning to the Huskies is goaltender Nicole Paniccia who paced the Huskies with a .926 save percentage and two shutouts last season. She tallied a 4-10-3 record in 18 games played last season.
Year Six for Barcomb
The 2012-13 season marks the sixth season for head coach Claudia Barcomb, who came to Union after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Harvard, her alma mater.
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She also was a three year letterwinner and captained the 1999 squad to ECACH regular season and tournament championship.
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Assistant coach Ali Boe is also in her sixth season and is a 2006 graduate of Harvard. She lettered four years and backstopped the Crimson to three-straight ECAC Hockey League Championship titles and three Frozen Four appearances.
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Assistant coach Julie Chu returns for her third season. Chu spent the month of August playing for the U.S. Women's National Team. She helped the 2010 U.S.A. Women's Team to a silver medal in the Winter Olympics at Vancouver. Chu is also a 2007 Harvard graduate and four year letterwinner.
First Impressions at Home
Since their inaugural season of Division I ice hockey in the 2003-04 season, the Dutchwomen are 5-3 in their home opener. Union has won their last three decisions holding an 18-2 advantage in goals when playing their first game at home
Reloaded
Despite losing seven letterwinners, the Dutchwomen return four of their top five goal scorers from last season.
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Stefanie Thomson led Union in goals scored with seven and had three assists.
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Rhianna Kurio was tied for second in goals scored with six, three of them coming on the power play.
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Christine Valente paced the Dutchwomen with 12 points (six goals, six assists). Teammate Byranne Panchuk trailed Valente by just one point (five goals, six assists).
