Ripon College scored four goals in a span of 4:07 early in the second half, taking command of a close game at halftime and going on to defeat the Lakeland University women's soccer team 7-1 in both teams' season opener Thursday.

Paige Birschbach scored three goals, Paige Pierce added two goals and Kaylee Tadych notched four assists for the Red Hawks, who defeated the Muskies in a season opener for the third time in four years. Ripon also spoiled the debut for Alex Mattson, a former Ripon assistant in his first game as Lakeland's head coach.

The visitors' explosion at the start of the second half spoiled a plucky start by the Muskies, who trailed just 2-0 at halftime and had several quality chances late in the half. The best came 10 seconds apart when Elizabeth Siebert (Fr.-Mount Pulaski, Ill.) and Brianna Johnson (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.) put shots on goal, with Ripon goalkeeper Miye Aoki-Kramer knocking the second one out for a Lakeland corner kick.

The Red Hawks took command just after the intermission, though, starting with a goal by Tadych at 47:39 of the match. Birschbach then added two goals in the 51st minute just 47 seconds apart, and Pierce added another less than a minute later for a 6-0 lead.

The Muskies were able to get on the board for the first time this season in the 76th minute. Abby Mauer (Fr.-Waldo, Wis.) served in a corner kick from the right side, and after a deflection Johnson tapped it in for her first collegiate goal and Mauer's first assist.

Lakeland had one more chance just a few minutes later, when Rachel Hasko (Fr.-Racine, Wis.) got behind the defense and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but her hard shot from far out went just high of the upper left corner of the goal.

Ripon outshot Lakeland 19-7, with Birschbach attempting seven shots. Johnson had three shot attempts, all on goal, to lead the Muskies, while Afton Barrows (Sr.-Iron Mountain, Mich.) also added a shot on goal.

Mikenzie Howarth (Fr.-Peshtigo, Wis.) and Zeni Yacab (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) split duties in goal, with Haworth making three saves in the first half and Yacab adding three saves in the second half.

In addition to being Mattson's head coaching debut, the coaching matchup was also a pairing of him against a coach he once worked for, as well as the return of a former Muskie. Sam  Schroeder was the head coach at Ripon while Mattson was an assistant there from 2013-15, and he is a former Lakeland player and later assistant coach from 2005-09.

Lakeland is home again on Sunday when it welcomes Rockford (Ill.) University for a 1 p.m. kickoff on campus.