Laura Cote scored her first of the season and Nara Elia and Abby Hustler each had three points on the night, as the St. Lawrence University women's hockey team returned to Appleton Arena for the new year with a 5-1 win over Union College on Friday night in Canton, New York.
 
Abby Hustler found the back of the net first to give St. Lawrence a 1-0 lead just four minutes and 21 seconds in. Nara Elia wired the puck across the neutral zone to Hustler, who carried it into the zone and fired it stick-side past Union netminder Olivia Rinzel. Kristina Bahl earned the secondary assist on the play.
 
Union's Emily King answered back with a goal of her own ten minutes later, while on the power-play to tie the game up.
 
Union found themselves back on the power-play after a tripping call late in the second, but just a few seconds in, Shailynn Snow scored her fifth of the season, giving the Saints a 2-1 lead at the 18:44 mark. Melissa Jefferies passed the puck up the ice to Elia, who had yet another highlight-worthy assist, dangling the puck net-front before dipping it to Snow between Rinzel and the pipe, and Snow tipped it in.
 
Shots were even at six a-piece after the first.
 
After a high stick call, St. Lawrence found themselves skating a man down for the fifth time during the game. But again, their penalty kill was equal to the task, and Laura Cote put the Saints up 3-1. She picked up the loose puck off a face-off, carried it up the ice, outskating the Union defense, and sent the puck five-hole halfway into the period for the short-handed tally.
 
Both the Saints and the Dutchwomen had nine shots in the second.
 

 
Union's Hope Crisafi was between the pipes to start the third.
 
After a quiet start to the third, Elia scored her third point of the night, increasing St. Lawrence's lead to 4-1. Hustler sent the puck to Chloè Puddifant at the point, and Puddifant fired it to Elia, who sent a backhander into the net.
 
Three minutes later, Hustler got her second of the night, and solidified the Saints' 5-1 victory. Hustler carried the puck into the zone, and Aly McLeod fired a shot off. Crisafi made the save, but Hustler skated in and sent the rebound five-hole past Crisafi.
 
"We were able to capitalize on a few chances early to get the lead," said head coach Chris Wells '92. "Union played hard and was able to carry the play for stretches on us. Lucy made some nice stops to keep us in the lead. We saved our best for last as we found our stride in the third. We will have to recoup and get ready for RPI, who always plays hard."
 
Morgan finished the game with 18 saves, while Rinzel and Crisafi each had 12.
 
St. Lawrence went 26-for-52 at the face-off circle and now stand 9-9-5 overall and 5-4-2 in conference play, while Union fell to 4-19-1 and 1-12-0.
 
The Scarlet and Brown host RPI tomorrow at Appleton Arena at 3:00 pm.