RIPON, Wis. - Seven proved to be a lucky number for the Ripon College women's soccer team Tuesday afternoon against Wisconsin Lutheran. The Red Hawks, who earlier in the day moved up to number seven in the NCAA Division-III North Region Rankings, defeated the Warriors by a score of 7-0 to improve their season record to 7-0-0, which marks the best start to a season in program history.

The Red Hawks' scoring started just 10 minutes into the game when freshman Paige Pierce netted her sixth goal of the season, thanks to assists by Paige Birschbach and Kaylee Tadych. Twenty minutes later, Pierce found the back of the net again on a cross from Birschbach, who would get into the scoring action on a Penalty Kick just before halftime.

Ripon didn't let their foot off the pedal in the second half, as Pierce completed her first career hat trick with a goal off a deflection, with the assist going to Mikaylay Huesman. Birschbach, who leads all of Division-III in goals per game, would score her second of the contest and 14th of the season three minutes later on a corner kick by Tadych. Four minutes later, sophomore Cassidy Blaney got into the action with her second career goal to put Ripon up by six, with the assist going to Birschbach. Tadych then capped the scoring with a one-on-one opportunity against the Wisconsin Lutheran Goal Keeper for her fifth goal of the season, assisted by Becky Schwindt.

The Red Hawks out-shot the Warriors 28-5, as Ripon recorded 14 shots in each half. Diana Meredith and Jacie Verstegen combined for the shutout, recording one save apiece.

Ripon will try to remain unbeaten and untied as they enter conference season Saturday against Monmouth College. That game will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Prairie Field in Ripon.