Brianna Johnson (
Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.) scored a hat trick-and then some-and the Lakeland University women's soccer team rode a big first half to a 6-2 win over Rockford (Ill.) University Sunday afternoon.
Johnson scored four goals in just her second collegiate game, including three goals in the first half. The Muskies (1-1 overall) used the scoring outburst to notch their first win of the season and the first collegiate coaching win for head coach
Alex Mattson.
Johnson bookended Lakeland's scoring in a first half that resulted in a 4-1 lead at halftime, scoring the opener just 2:34 into the match with an assist from
Stephanie Figueroa (
So.-Round Lake Park, Ill.) and then finding the net just 14 seconds before halftime off a pretty feed from
Rachel Hasko (
Fr.-Racine, Wis.).
The freshman forward also helped fend off a Rockford (1-1 overall) attempt to rally midway through the first half. After the Regents' Lexie Collins had scored at the 23:41 mark to cut the Muskies' lead to 2-1, Johnson scored her second goal of the half off a centering pass by
Makenna Waller (
Fr.-De Pere, Wis.) in the 26th minute to put Lakeland back up by two goals at 3-1.
Waller and Johnson also connected in the ninth minute, with Johnson crossing a pass from the right corner to Waller in the middle and the midfielder recording her first collegiate goal. Johnson also added one final goal in the 65th minute, her fourth of the game to give Lakeland a 6-1 lead.
Abby Mauer (
Fr.-Waldo, Wis.) also scored her first collegiate goal in the match, running down a pass ahead from Hasko and taking several touches before beating the goalkeeper at the 63:36 mark. Mauer also had an assist on Johnson's final goal.
Karisa Rowland (
Fr.-Peoria, Ariz.) made three saves in goal in 71 minutes to earn her first collegiate win.
Mikenzie Howarth (
Fr.-Peshtigo, Wis.) finished the game and was in goal when Melissa Macias scored the Regents' final goal with just over a minute left in the match.
Lakeland outshot Rockford 19-13, including a 12-5 margin in the first half. The Muskies also posted an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal.
The Muskies return to the field Wednesday when they travel to face Beloit College at 4:30 p.m.
