ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Kalamazoo outscored Augustana 11-3 in the second half Saturday, breaking open a tight game to win 17-7 at Thorson-Lucken Field. The Vikings were playing their 2020 season opener, while the Hornets improved to 2-1 on the year.
 
Junior Sandra Pielechaty (Taft HS, Chicago, Ill.) drew first blood with an unassisted goal less than a minute in, but Rachel Madar answered with the first two of her nine goals in the game. Sophomore Kathryn Hettiger (Carmel HS, Carmel, Ind.) and freshman Claire Kim (Mundelein HS, Mundelein, Ill.) sandwiched tallies around one by Kalamazoo's Rose Bogard as Augustana stayed even (3-3) through the first 20 minutes.
 
Two more Madar goals gave the Hornets a lead (5-3) they wouldn't relinquish. Sophomore Sydney Rector (Fishers HS, Fishers, Ind.) scored with 7:22 left in the half, but Leah Tardiff's free position goal at the 4:13 mark gave Kalamazoo a 6-4 lead at the break.
 
Tardiff and Viking freshman Cassidy Petrie (Naperville North HS, Naperville, Ill.) traded goals to start the second stanza, but the Hornets followed with seven straight, including three by Madar, to take command.
 
Hettiger scored to stem the tide temporarily, but Kalamazoo responded with three straight goals. Madar delivered the last two. Kim scored off a free position attempt with 1½ minutes remaining to account for the final.
 
Hettiger finished with two goals and an assist and Kim scored twice as well. Goalie Courtney Veitch (Lake Zurich HS, Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) and Margaret Cecilio (Archbishop Mitty HS, San Jose, Calif.) captured eight and five ground balls, respectively, and Pielechaty controlled three draws.
 
Veitch went the distance, recording 16 saves—one shy of her career high.
 
Gwen Davis stopped eight Augustana shots in goal for the Hornets.
 
Coach C.J. Holder's outfit will be back in action on Saturday, March 7 in Mequon, Wisconsin against Concordia. First draw is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.