ALFRED -- The SUNY Potsdam women’s soccer team opened up the 2010 season in style, hammering the Hilbert College Hawks 7-0 in the first round of the Alfred University Tournament.

Freshman forward Ashley Thayer (Winthrop, N.Y./St. Lawrence) and junior midfielder Kathleen Frear (Scotia, N.Y./Scotia) each scored twice and junior midfielder Jess Mehm (Schroon Lake, N.Y./Schroon Lake) finished with a goal and two assists to lead the way for Potsdam.

Sophomore forward Heather Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Heuvelton) got things rolling in the 18th minute after being set up by junior midfielder Dedra Palmer (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro).

Frear got her first goal just over five minutes later with an assist from Mehm for a 2-0 lead.

Over half of the final period went by without any scoring before the Bears exploded for five more goals in the last 20 minutes. Mehm notched her goal in the 70th minute assisted by junior midfielder Taylor Jordan (Canton, N.Y./Canton).

Jord netted her own goal less than three minutes later with junior midfielder Stephanie Simons (Stratford, Ontario/St. Michaels) recording the helper.

In the 77th minute Frear buried a penalty kick for her second tally. Thayer closed out the drubbing with her two strikes just 20 seconds apart in the 84th minute with assists coming from Mehm and Simons, respectively.

Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Titus (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) opened her collegiate career with a shutout, stopping five shots. Potsdam outshot the Hilbert (1-1) 19-9.

The Bears (1-0) are back in action today at 3 p.m. when they take on the Pitt-Bradford Panthers in the second round of the Alfred Tournament.