LONGMEADOW, MA -- Junior Veronica Halen recorded her first career hat trick and Alexis Giusti added two goals as Lesley used five goals in the first 11:07 of the second half to break open a 1-0 halftime lead in thumping host Bay Path, 8-0 Wednesday evening in New England Collegiate Conference Women's Soccer play at Ryan Field.

The Wildcats held the Lynx at bay for the majority of the first half. In spite of earning a 16-3 advantage in shots for the frame, Lesley could only muster a Halen goal in the 38th minute, going into halftime clinging to a 1-0 lead. 

Play opened up quickly to start the second half. Halen assisted to Hayley Wirth just 52 seconds out of the break, and Giusti tallied an unassisted goal just 45 seconds later, as Lesley burst out to a 3-0 lead in the first 97 seconds of the period.

Guisti scored her second straight goal at 50:14 on Halen's second assist of the night, and from there the reigning NECC Player of the Year took over. Halen, who seven times registered two goals in a game a season ago, completed her first career hat trick with two unassisted goals in a span of 58 seconds to make it a 6-0 match. 

Freshmen Isabella Vidana and Melinda Robinson added tallies over the final 10 minutes - Vidana logging the first of her career on Samantha Rapant's first assist as a Lynx - wrapping up the seven-goal second half outburst. 

Halen's eight-point effort marks a career high, with the junior now taking over the NECC lead in assists at six. For the game, Lesley outshot Bay Path 32-3 as goalkeepers Victoria Ellis and Emileigh Lloyd combined on the shutout.

At 8-1-2 (3-0-0 NECC) and undefeated over its last five matches of a six-game road trip, Lesley returns to Edward Field on Sunday at noon against Wheelock.