As the puck drops for the 2025-26 season, the Union College women’s ice hockey team enters a pivotal year. Between a landmark facility upgrade, a celebrated first season under a new coach, and the infusion of new talent, the Garnet Chargers are aiming higher than ever.
Head coach Tony Maci begins his second season at the helm, having already made history. In his first year, he led Union to its most wins in program history and delivered the program’s first-ever postseason victory. The team finished 13-23-1 overall, including a program-record eight ECAC wins, a notable achievement given the competition in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Just as important, Union was no longer getting overwhelmed in big games; many losses came by a single goal, a sign that the program is steadily narrowing the gap with its rivals.
This year also brings one of the biggest changes in program history: the move into the brand-new M&T Bank Center in Schenectady. The arena not only improves the team’s day-to-day training environment but also provides a boost in recruiting appeal and fan experience. Maci has emphasized that with last season’s foundation in place, this year is about acceleration. The challenge will be to integrate new players quickly and tighten the team’s structure so that they can execute from the start, rather than spending the early weeks finding their rhythm.
A major part of that acceleration comes from new arrivals. Union welcomes eight newcomers for 2025-26, including six first-years and two transfers. The transfers, junior defensemen Hayley Kelleher from Clarkson University and Peyton O’Neill from Long Island University, should stabilize Union’s blue line, an area that faced tests last season, while also adding leadership qualities honed in higher-level play.
Leadership within the locker room also reflects the program’s growing maturity. Senior defenseman Stephanie Bourque has been named captain, supported by junior defenseman Megan Ognibene and senior forward Mallory Mauracher as assistant captains. This balance between veterans on defense and forwards underscores the team’s commitment to steadiness at the back while fostering more composed and opportunistic play up front.
Union’s hopes this season extend well beyond repeating last year’s record. The team is determined to convert those one-goal losses into victories, to defend home ice with greater consistency in their new arena, and to start the season with sharper execution than in previous years. Success will also be measured by progress in conference play, where the Chargers aim to build on their eight ECAC wins and push deeper into the league’s postseason. Just as importantly, Maci and his players are focused on continuing to establish a culture of competitiveness—one where tighter defensive play, composure in high-pressure moments, and improved finishing become the norm.
This weekend’s home series against Franklin Pierce will provide the first chance to test those ambitions. With new transfers, a new arena, and the momentum of last year’s record-setting season behind them, Union enters 2025-26 with higher expectations than ever before. The question is whether the Chargers can take the next step forward and turn promise into sustained success.
