PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's soccer team was able to slow a powerful opponent for a half but Edgewood College erupted for three quick goals early in the second half on the way to topping the Muskies 6-0 Wednesday night at rainy Taylor Field.

The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference leaders showed their firepower with three goals in a span of just over three minutes to turn a close game lopsided. Edgewood improved to 11-1-1 overall and 7-0-1 in the NACC while Lakeland dropped to 4-10 overall and 1-8 in conference.

The Muskies played well for a half even while trailing 2-0 at halftime. Rain earlier in the day made for a wet field even at the start of the game, and the Eagles' first goal was a product of the wet field. Siobhan Gallagher struck a free kick from just shy of midfield, more than 50 yards from the goal, but the ball bounced on the wet turf, skidding while also taking a high hop that went over goalkeeper Haley Rich (Sr.-West Chicago, Ill.) for a 1-0 lead less than six minutes into the match.

Edgewood added a second goal exactly 25 minutes into the match when Reese Meszaros hit a shot from a sharp left angle that hit the crossbar and dropped straight down, right to Lauren Clark who headed the ball in to make it 2-0. Despite the score, the Eagles' good chances in the first half were few, and Lakeland even had a brief rush in the 13th minute when Faith Turley (Jr.-Lincoln, Ill.) first hit a shot off the top of the crossbar and after a corner kick Allison Solberg Kieler (Fr.-Ridgeway, Wis.) had a shot in front that was blocked and bounced to goalkeeper Kailey Adamski.

A heavy rain developed midway through the first half and lasted the rest of the period, through halftime and into the second half. Edgewood came out strong and attempted four shots in the first ten minutes, then hit paydirt soon after. Clark scored her second goal of the match and was followed by back-to-back goals by Greta Blau, the second coming in the 60th minute for a 5-0 lead. The Eagles substituted freely after that and the scoring slowed with the exception of a goal in the 75th minute by Lauryn Nachreiner from 15 yards out for the final score.

Lakeland's opportunities in the second half were limited, with Hanna Brouch (So.-Kaukauna, Wis.) attempting the lone shot and also taking two corner kicks 20 seconds apart midway through the half.

Rich made five saves in goal playing the first half, while Turley stopped six shots in the second half. Brouch also was responsible for a team save in the first half, clearing away a shot in front of an open net in the 20th minute.

The Muskies are home again on Saturday when they face Alverno College at 11 a.m. at Taylor Field.