ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Junior Kathryn Hettiger (Carmel HS, Carmel, Ind.) erupted for seven goals, five in the second half, to help lead Augustana to an 18-6 non-conference women's lacrosse win over Benedictine on Saturday, March 13 at Thorson-Lucken Field. The victory pushes C.J. Holder's Vikings to 2-3 on the season while Benedictine falls to 1-3.
 
It certainly didn't take the home team long to get on the scoreboard as Augustana had a 3-0 lead before the match was three minutes old. Junior Sydney Rector (Fishers HS, Fishers, Ind.) scored the first two goals; her first one was unassisted at 28:56 while the second one came off a Sandra Pielechaty (Taft HS, Chicago, Ill.) assist at 28:21. Junior Margaret Cecilio (Archbishop Mitty HS, San Jose, Calif.) made it 3-0 on a free position shot at 27:14.
 
Benedictine got on the board with a goal by Victoria House at 22:54 but the Vikings tallied six straight times to go up 9- with 15:58 to play following an unassisted goal by freshman Brooke Borchart (Huntley HS, Huntley, Ill.). Hettiger started the run at 22:36 thanks to an assist by Pielechaty and Pielechaty assisted on the next goal, which went to Cecilio to make it 5-1. Sophomore Cassidy Petrie (Naperville North HS, Naperville, Ill.) scored twice and Pielechaty once more to account for the Augustana goals in the spurt.
 
The visiting Eagles scored three straight times to narrow the margin to 9-4 after a goal by Savanna Ulery with 4:29 left in the first half.
 
The Vikings exploded and scored three goals in the 1:29 of the half. Petrie tallied at 1:29, Pielechaty at :19 and Hettiger at :15. The first two were unassisted while Hettiger's goal came off an assist by Petrie.
 
The score was 12-4 at halftime in favor of Augustana and the Eagles trimmed the margin to 12-5 with a goal in the first minute of the second half by Savanna Ulery.
 
The Vikings scored the next five goals to go up 17-5 and start the running clock. All five of the Augustana goals were scored by Hettiger and there were assists on all of them. Pielechaty assisted on the first, fourth and fifth goals in the sequence while Cecilio dished off the second goal and Rector contributed on the third.
 
Hettiger's goal that made it 17-5 came at 17:36 and the Vikings did not score again until 1:42 remained when Borchart scored unassisted. That made it 18-6 for the final. Benedictine got a free position goal from Kaylee Garcia at 13:59 which made it 17-6.
 
The Vikings held a 36-16 advantage in shots and a huge 17-9 edge in draw controls. Pielechaty led the team with six assists and five ground balls. Cecilio won eight draw controls and Hettiger five.
 
Senior Courtney Veitch (Lake Zurich HS, Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) picked up the win in goal after she recorded five saves.
 
The Vikings play again on Wednesday, March 17 at home against Monmouth at 6:00 p.m.