FREDERICK, Md. - Hood College freshman Karina Stetsyuk (Frederick, Md. / Gov. Thomas Johnson) scored her first two career goals in the first half, then completed the hat trick in the second half to help the Blazers pull away from Cedar Crest, 7-2.

Stetsyuk's first career goal tied the game at 22:57 when she found a loose ball in front of the net and poked it in. Her second goal came just under six minutes later at 28:43, when she gathered up another loose ball and shot it past the keeper. 

Cedar Crest took the early lead at 5:57, when Emily Rodenburger took the ball off a free hit, beat the defense and rocketed the shot into the cage.

The Falcons came out strong in the second half and had a great chance to tie the game but senior Ying Van Schaik (Easton, Md. / Gunston Day School) made a beautiful kick save off of a hard shot by Rodenburger at 47:22.

That save seemed to be the turning point of the game, and even though the Falcons still applied the pressure, they could not get the tying goal past Van Schaik, who made 12 saves in the game. 

Senior Madeline Birmingham (Manassas, Va. / Osbourn) scored her first goal of the season at 51:06, as she redirected a Rachel Marlow (Thurmont, Md. / Catoctin) shot into the goal. At 57:11 Steysuk completed the hat trick when she put home another rebound. Just under two minutes later, freshman Alexis Briscoe (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach) scored her third goal of the year to put the game out of reach at 5-1. She later added her fourth of the year with nine seconds left in the game. 

Between Briscoe's goals, the sixth Hood goal came off the stick of another freshman, Melissa Dryman (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora), who redirected the shot from Rachel Gannon (Church Hill, Md. / Queen Anne's County). Dryman also assisted on Briscoe's second goal. 

Stetsyuk became the first Blazer to record a hat trick since Morgan Cole scored four goals last year against Notre Dame (Md.). It was the first three goal game since 1997, when Nicki Gough accomplished the feat against Randolph-Macon. 

For the team, it was the most goals scored in a game since October 2012, when Hood defeated Bethany (W.Va.), 7-1.

The Blazers look to stay in the win column when they start conference play against Albright, on September 28 at Thomas Athletic Field.