Heather Szymanski

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team scored early and often Saturday afternoon, with five goals during the opening seven minutes and a season-high 21 overall, as the Fighting Scots rolled to a 21-3 triumph in their North Coast Athletic Conference lid-lifter against Hiram College at John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster, at 7-0 overall, has now matched the program's best start to a season since 1975 when the team went undefeated (9-0).

Just six days ago, Ellie Hudson-Heck became the first Scot to score eight goals in a game since 1994, and on Saturday, teammate Heather Szymanski nearly pulled off the same feat as the junior netted a career-high seven goals.

Szymanski scored two of the opening five goals, with Hudson-Heck assisting on one, and the former notched her third-straight hat trick, and seventh of her career, just 11:36 into the game while giving Wooster a 7-0 advantage.

Hiram (3-4, 0-1 NCAC) then got onto the scoreboard, only to see the Scots respond with eight unanswered goals the rest of the half. Syzmanski netted two more to give her five 13:21 before halftime, then she assisted on an Abby Szlachta tally during a man-up opportunity.

Hudson-Heck was part of three of Wooster's last five goals of the half, firing in two shots and setting up another goal via a pass to Michaela Lawrence.

Ahead 15-1, the Scots were patient on the offensive end throughout the second half, taking just nine shots. They converted on six, including Szymanski's sixth and seventh goals of the day.

Statistically, Hudson-Heck still managed to finish as the game's top scorer with nine points coming on four goals and a career-best five assists. The standout midfielder also led all players with seven draw controls and three caused turnovers.

Other Wooster players with multi-point efforts included Szlachta (4 goals), Lawrence (2 goals, 1 assist), Jamie Wren-Jarvis (1 goal, 2 assists), Laura Papp (3 assists), Mara Sheban (2 goals), and Jordan Stone (1 goal, 1 assist).

The Scots will return to non-league play on Thursday night when they host Augustana (Ill.) College (7-1) at 6:30 p.m.