Freshman forward Laura Heyboer scored three goals — and dished out an assist 43 seconds into her collegiate career — en route to a 5-1 victory over Oakland on Friday in Rochester.

MSU went up 2-0 after junior midfielder Lauren Sinacola and sophomore forward Cara Freeman each scored. Oakland forward Amy Trandell got on the board with a goal before Heyboer stole the show with three straight goals.

“(We) strung passes together very well and did some nice things offensively,” MSU head coach Tom Saxton said.

But after slowly trudging along through an unforgiving 1-8-1 conference season (7-10-2 overall) last year, Saxton said his team can’t get too excited.

He’s got to keep pushing, and his players know it.

“Our fitness tests have been raised to a higher level — everyone has come in working harder and in the best shape of their lives, much more than last year,” junior forward Lauren Hill said. “Our problems in the past have come in closing out games down the stretch.

“We are working to stay strong and tough it out each and every game.”

A new found confidence

Sinacola understands the struggles she and her teammates went through last season -0 which are by no means a secret -0 and she’s not ashamed to admit the team lacked a consistent mental toughness.

“This year, as a team, our confidence is, well, we actually have some this year — since adding some new weapons, like Laura (Heyboer), we approach everything differently. I mean, five goals? That might be more than we’ve had all last year,” Sinacola laughed jokingly. “From now on, it just feels like that’s all going to change — a change in our favor.”

A little help

Soccer wasn’t the only reason the MSU and Oakland fans came out for Friday’s game.

The event went hand in hand with a cancer fundraiser for MSU associate head coach Tammy Farnum’s 5-year-old daughter Adalin Farnum, who is battling cancer.

Both universities raised $4,500 from a silent auction and donations for Adalin.

“It shows that the soccer community is so close,” Saxton said. “The coach at Oakland (Nick O’Shea) is a personal friend of both mine and Tammy’s, and it was his idea to do this. We were eternally grateful.

“Our administrations are close and we appreciate what they’re willing to do.”

Special wristbands were made with Adalin in mind and when his players are winded and fatigued, Saxton said he’s seen his players look down at it and gut out that extra sprint or two.