The Union Garnet Chargers women's ice hockey team represents Union College in Schenectady, New York, United States.
History From 1999 to 2003, the team competed in Division III hockey. In 2003, the team joined the ECAC.
On February 20, 2010, senior Jackie Koetteritz, had played in her 125th game for the team, setting a record for the most games for the team.
On November 4, 2011: Emilie Arseneault scored a short handed goal late into the second period to give the team a 2–1 conference victory over the Clarkson Golden Knights women's ice hockey program. It was the team's first ECAC win since the 2009–2010 season, and only their second ECAC win since 2004.
Despite ending the 2013–14 season with a 9–24–1 record, several milestones were achieved. Their nine wins, all recorded by goaltender Shenae Lundberg, setting a record for most wins in one season by a goaltender, signified the highest win total under Head Coach Claudia Asano Barcomb. Starting the season 2–0 for the first time in program history, the team enjoyed another notable first, defeating the Princeton Tigers. They also set a new program record with 25 power play goals, as senior forward Stefanie Thomson scored seven power play goals, also a program record. Subsequently, their efforts on the power play resulted in the third best power play in the ECAC conference, ranking eighth best in the nation. As a side note, team captain Maddy Norton would lead the team in assists (18) and points (21).
In 2019–2020, the team finished 9th in the ECAC, their highest finish in the league. They finished the season at 5–24–5 overall, and 5–13–5 in conference play.
Union did not play in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022-23, head coach Josh Sciba led Union to one of the best seasons in program history. The Garnet Chargers posted the most wins in single Division I season with 11 victories including a 4-1 win over #15 Princeton on December 3, 2022, securing the program's first-ever victory over a ranked opponent.
Sciba also became the winningest coach in program history on January 21, 2023, in the team's 3-1 victory over Harvard University. The win also marked the first time the Garnet Chargers won a regular season series against the Crimson (1-0-1) in program history.
Union also accomplished one of its best stretches during the month of November, winning three overtime games as a part of a four-game winning streak and a five-game unbeaten streak, both the longest in Division I program history.
On July 31, 2024, Union announced hiring of head coach Tony Maci, following Sciba's departure to join the coaching staff of the PWHL's New York Sirens.
Under the leadership of Maci, Union saw significant progress in the 2024-25 season. Union improved to 3-0-0 in ECAC Hockey for the first time in program history and one three straight conference games for the first time as a Division I program defeating Harvard and Dartmouth before upsetting #3 Cornell on November 1. The win against #3 Cornell marked the first time women's hockey had beaten a Top-10 nationally ranked team in history.
The Garnet Chargers then broke the conference win record (six wins) with a 3-2 victory over Harvard on January 18 and set a new single season wins record (12 wins) with a 2-1 win against Brown on January 31. To cap off the season, Union secured its first-ever playoff win, shutting out Brown, 2-0, in Providence on February 22.
Brown became the second team the Garnet Chargers shut out three games to zero following Union's Mayors' Cup win marked the first time Union had swept Rensselaer, 3-0, in a single season. The Mayors' Cup win marked the second time in history that women's hockey had won the cup, and the first season that both the women's and men's teams won in the same year.
Individually, Sophie Matsoukas set the career saves record for 3,030 in the quarterfinal series against Cornell on March 1. Matsoukas also tied for first in both single-season (three) and career shutouts (six) in the opening round of playoffs against Brown on February 22.
Maren Friday became the first player in program history to win a major award, having been named the recipient of the Mandi Schwartz Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Friday also broke the all-time points record among blueliners, tallying her 40th point in the playoff win against Brown on February 22.
Karianne Engelbert broke the single-season rookie points record, scoring both goals in Union's playoff victory against Brown on February 22. Engelbert finished the season with 24 points and became only the second player in program history to be named to an ECAC team, earning a spot on the ECAC All-Rookie Team on February 24.
Stephanie Bourque broke the single season goals (8) and points record (22 points) amongst blueliners.
Emma Hebert broke the Ironwoman streak recording, playing her 137th career game in the final regular-season game on February 15 at Quinnipiac.
Year by year Won championshipLost championshipConference championsLeague leader
Season Coach W L T Conference Conf. W Conf. L Conf. T Conf. F Conference Tournament NCAA Tournament2025-26Tony Maci11223ECAC318112th ECACWon First Round, 2–1 (Clarkson) Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Yale)Did not qualify2024–25Toni Maci13231ECAC8140T-9th ECACWon First Round, 2–0 (Brown) Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Cornell)Did not qualify2023–24Josh Sciba8252ECAC317211th ECACLost First Round, 2–5 (Yale)Did not qualify2022–23Josh Sciba11221ECAC417111th ECACDid not qualifyDid not qualify2021–22Josh Sciba5281ECAC220012th ECACDid not qualifyDid not qualify2020–21Did not play due to COVID-192019–20 Josh Sciba 5 24 5 ECAC 5 14 3 9th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2018–19 Josh Sciba 4 28 2 ECAC 2 19 1 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2017–18 Josh Sciba 7 22 5 ECAC 5 15 2 10th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2016–17 Josh Sciba 5 281 ECAC 2 19 1 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2015–16 Claudia Asano Barcomb 0 286 ECAC 0 19 3 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2014–15 Claudia Asano Barcomb 4 228 ECAC 1 16 5 11th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2013–14 Claudia Asano Barcomb9241 ECAC 4 18 0 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2012–13 Claudia Asano Barcomb7234 ECAC 0 18 4 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2011–12 Claudia Asano Barcomb4264 ECAC 2 18 2 11th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2010–11 Claudia Asano Barcomb2293 ECAC 1 19 2 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2009–10 Claudia Asano Barcomb5281 ECAC 1 20 1 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2008–09 Claudia Asano Barcomb 2 29 3 ECAC 0 21 1 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2007–08 Claudia Asano Barcomb 3 276 ECAC 0 20 2 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2006–07 Tim Gerrish 4 26 0 ECAC 0 22 0 12th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2005–06Tim Gerrish 3 241 ECAC 0 20 0 11th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2004–05Tim Gerrish 527 1 ECAC 0 20 0 11th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2003–04Fred Quistgard 4 29 1 ECAC 1 17 0 10th ECAC Did not qualify Did not qualify2002–03Fred Quistgard 11 14 1 ECAC D-III East 10 9 1 2001–02Fred Quistgard 8 16 2 ECAC D-III East 8 9 1 2000–01Fred Quistgard 3 19 2 ECAC D-III East 1 15 2 1999–2000Fred Quistgard 4 19 0 ECAC D-III East 4 13 0
Team captains 2011–12 Dania Simmonds 2013–14: Ashley Johnston and Maddy Norton 2014–15: Christina Valente
Current roster As of May 19, 2026.
Notable players Ashley Johnston A defensemen and captain for the New York Riveters in the NWHL. She is also a robotics engineer who has also won the Ashley Kilstein Community Service award as a member of the Union College women's ice hockey team. Dania Simmonds A defenseman and alternate captain for the Markham Thunder CWHL winner of the Adrienne Clarkson trophy.
Awards and honors Jackie Koetteritz, 2008–09 All-ECAC Hockey Academic Selection Emma Rambo, ECAC Rookie of the Week (Week of October 5, 2009) 2009 ECAC Turfer Athletic Trophy: Union Dutchwomen team Grace Heiting, Finalist, 2021 ECAC Mandi Schwartz Student-Athlete of the Year Award
ECAC Weekly Awards Bella McKee, ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week (Union) (awarded October 21, 2019)
Team Awards George Morrison MVP Award Shenae Lundberg, 2015 George Morrison MVP Award Alli Devins, 2017 George Morrison Most Valuable Player award Katelynn Russ, 2018 George Morrison Most Valuable Player award Katelynn Russ, 2020 George Morrison Most Valuable Player award
Hana Yamasita Coaches Award Dania Simmonds, 2012 Coaches Award Christine Valente, 2015 Hana Yamashita Coaches Award Alli Devins, 2017 Hana Yamasita Coaches Award winner (given to the player that shows a supreme competitiveness, consistently gives 100 percent effort in both practice and games, and is extraordinarily conditioned with an unmatched work ethic) Arianna Kosakowski, 2018 Hana Yamashita Coaches'Award Megan Ryan, 2020 Hana Yamasita Coaches Award winner
Most Improved Player award Dania Simmonds, 2010 Most Improved Player Elizabeth Otten, 2015 Most Improved Player Eastyn Yuen, 2017 Most Improved Player award Alli First, 2018 Most Improved Player Olivia Groulx, 2020 "Ancora Imparo" Process Award (formerly Most Improved Player award)
Rookie of the Year Erica Kelly, 2015 Rookie of the Year. Kate Spooner, 2017 Dutchwomen Rookie of the Year Megan Ryan, 2018 Rookie of the Year
Unsung Hero award Christine Valente, 2013 Unsung Hero Award Christine Valente, 2014 Unsung Hero Award Christine Valente, 2015 Unsung Hero Award Alli Devins, 2017 Unsung Hero award Katie Laughlin, 2018 Unsung Hero Award
Ashley Kilstein '08 Community Service Award Dania Simmonds, 2012 Ashley Johnston 2013 Ashley Johnston 2014 Nicole Russell, 2015 Caitlyn McLaren, 2017 Amelia Murray, 2018 Amelia Murray and Rachel de Perio, 2020
Garnet Glue Award Makayla Mori, 2020 Garnet Glue Award
Garnet Chargers in professional hockey = CWHL All-Star = NWHL All-Star= Clarkson Cup Champion= Isobel Cup Champion Player Position Team(s) League(s) Years ChampionshipsLundy DayGoaltenderTeam AlbertaCWHL1Rhianna KurioForwardCalgary InfernoCWHL 2016 Clarkson Cup2019 Clarkson CupShenae LundbergGoaltenderConnecticut WhaleNWHLEmma Rambo Defense Boston Blades CWHL 1Dania SimmondsDefenseMarkham ThunderCWHL 2018 Clarkson CupCourtney TurnerDefenseWorcester BladesCWHL 1st pick overall of 2017 CWHL Draft Olympians Monja Wagner, , 2026 Winter Olympics.
See also Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey
References
External links Union Dutchwomen ice hockey