Austin's offense has been unable to keep up as the Packer boys' soccer team slipped into the postseason with its fifth consecutive loss, 4-0 to Mankato West, Monday night at Wescott Field.

The Packers finished the regular season 4-14 overall and 4-10 in the Big Nine Conference, last winning Sept. 24 against Mankato East. Austin opens Section 1A play as the sixth seed, playing Saturday night at 6 p.m. at third-seeded Caledonia. The Warriors won both regular-season meetings with Austin, 4-1 and 3-0.

"It's still kind of the same stuff for us," said AHS first-year coach Sam Kolas. "Defensively we played pretty strong, but most of the game was in our half. We were under a lot of pressure.

"Our offense is still struggling a little bit."

Austin has surrendered an average of four goals against in the final five losses to end the regular season, scoring a total of three times in the same span.

Rochester Lourdes is the top seed of Section 1A, while LaCrescent is second. With a win Saturday, Austin would play either at LaCrescent or at home on Oct. 15.