They call themselves the Fantastic Four and it’s hard to miss them.

The Austin U17 boys soccer team is one win away from the Minnesota Soccer Association Youth State Tournament and their four defenders — who all don identical headbands during games — are a big reason why.

Austin (8-1-1 overall) led its division with just 13 goals allowed this season as its back line has played solid.

“You’ve just got to take your time and stay patient (on defense),” said Daman Zimbelman, who plays sweeper. “(A shutout) is even better than scoring because if you get a shutout, you can’t lose. Defense wins championships.”

This group of players made it to state as 14-year olds and they’re looking to get back. To do so, all they have to do is win one game at Shakopee on Sunday at 11 a.m.

“We’ll probably be playing La Crescent or Winona and we’ve beaten them both twice,” said Tyler Stevens, a stopper. “We’ll just look to shut them down and score goals. That’s what we do. We’ve always been really good at defense and this is our year to shine again.”

Zach Miller and Bo Summerfield also anchor the defense and Colin Weisert is Austin’s keeper. Sometimes the defense makes the game a little tedious for Weisert, but he’s not complaining.

“Not touching the ball gets boring, but it’s a good thing. It means they’re doing their job,” he said.

While Austin has won most of its games, it hasn’t been without adversity. The team had to play a few games without Weisert, who was injured, and J.J. Green stepped up in his place.

The team also won the South District title game without one of its biggest play-makers in Francisco Torres, who was All-State honorable mention as a sophomore on the high school team, due to a family commitment.

“I told the guys, it’s a team game and we’ve got to work together,” Austin U17 head coach Brent Brehmer said. “We’ve always stressed playing a team game. We do a ton of passing in practices and in the games we’re successful in, we move the ball well as a team. It’s not one guy dribbling down and scoring.”

Brehmer said that the U17 group has been a great one to coach this summer. They always come to practice on time and they’re always there to work.

“For some reason I’ve had as much fun coaching this year as any other year,” he said. “They’re a good group of kids, they’re coachable and they get along well.”

While the U17 team has had a solid summer, soccer continues to boom in Austin. Austin Youth Soccer set another record by having 12 teams and the most number of players ever.

Most of the teams have full rosters and some of them have been very successful.

The U14 boys team went unbeaten and has already qualified for the state tournament in Lakeland, Minn. July 23-29, the U12 boys team took second in its division and will compete in the playoffs and the U16 boys team will compete in the playoffs.

The U15 girls finished 7-2-1 and will compete in the playoffs.