GARDNER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Union Garnet Chargers will open their women’s NCAA Division I hockey season on the road Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, against the Franklin Pierce Ravens at Gardner Veterans Arena in Gardner, Mass. Both teams enter the game with 0-0 records, making the nonconference matchup the first test of the new campaign for each program.

Union is coming off a 6-1 loss at Yale on Feb. 28, 2026, in its most recent action. The Garnet Chargers will look to reset after that result and begin the 2026-27 schedule with a stronger defensive effort. Franklin Pierce also closed its most recent season with a setback, falling 6-0 at Wisconsin on March 14, 2026. The Ravens will play their home opener after that loss, seeking to generate offense in front of their home crowd.

Franklin Pierce will be the home team, while Union is the visitor. The game is part of a two-game series between the programs. The teams will meet again on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Franklin Pierce, giving both sides an early chance to evaluate line combinations, special teams and goaltending before the schedule intensifies. The opener also marks the first meeting of the season for both programs and one of the first women’s Division I contests on Union’s slate.

After the opening series, Union is scheduled to visit Merrimack for games on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3. The Garnet Chargers will then travel to Delaware on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17. Union’s first home games are set for Oct. 23 against Quinnipiac and Oct. 24 against Princeton. Later road dates include Cornell on Oct. 30, Colgate on Oct. 31 and RPI on Nov. 3.

Franklin Pierce will follow the Union series with road games at Saint Michael’s on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3. The Ravens will host Vermont on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10. They will visit Clarkson on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 before a home-and-home series with Saint Anselm on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24. Franklin Pierce is also set to host Sacred Heart on Oct. 30.

The matchup offers an early look at two programs aiming to establish momentum. Union will seek to manage the road environment and avoid a slow start. Franklin Pierce will try to use home ice and create scoring chances early. The Garnet Chargers and Ravens will each look to start the year on a positive note. Both teams have plenty of schedule ahead, but the season opener can set the tone for the weeks that follow.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Franklin Pierce to defeat Union 4-1.