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Austin senior soccer players Juju Thwang and Leo Hernandez are almost unstoppable when they have a one-on-one matchup in the open field.

Unfortunately for the Packers explosive duo, they haven’t had those chances very much in the past two seasons as teams have been keying on them. Thwang, who is a two-time All-State selection, and Hernandez, who is a two-time All-State honorable mention selection, have learned that they have to lean on their teammates if the Packers are going to have the success they want this season.

“They’re going to put two players on us, so we’re trying to set up other players,” Thwang said. “Every season I want to go to the state tournament. That’s where the college coaches are and that’s how we get our names out there, while playing in a great tournament.”

Hernandez said the attention makes things more difficult, but he’s not backing down.

“It’s a bit hard,” Hernandez said. “When we played against Byron, the team mostly knew both of us and we always had a target on our back. They’re always working us.”

Thwang started playing varsity soccer as an eighth grader and Hernandez has been on the varsity squad since he was a freshman. Both players also have younger brothers on the team so they are also invested in the future of Austin’s soccer program.

“I learned a lot of different leadership skills from a lot of different captains,” Thwang said. “This year, I’m focused on leading the younger players. They have a lot of talent and we have to push them to get to where they should be.”

Austin head coach Jens Levisen said that he recalls Hernandez making a big 25-yard goal against Mankato West as a freshman that made him stand out and he always knew that Thwang would emerge into a strong player for the team.

“These guys are just great leaders,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said of the senior duo. “Sometimes you get a captain just because they have talent but not necessarily because of their leadership skills. These guys have the skills and they are motivating guys in the off-season and keeping guys on track so they don’t show up late.”

When Thwang arrived on the varsity scene as an eighth grader, the Packers had one of the best teams in all of Class A during the 2020 season. Austin finished that season unbeaten, but there was no state tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Packers won their fourth straight Big Nine championship in 2020 and Austin had lost just one Big Nine game over the stretch. Austin also won four section titles over that span.

Since that season, Thwang has played in just one state tournament, when he and Hernandez led the Packers to a state berth in 2022. 

The Packers’ ultimate goal this season is to make it back to the state tournament and Hernandez and Thwang are willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

“It would be a perfect way to end what has been a lovely journey,” Hernandez said. “It’s the only goal. The Austin name was at the top and in recent years, it’s lost the respect that it should have. Our goal is to bring it back where it should be.”

The Packers (0–2-1 overall) will play at Albert Lea at 7 p.m. Tuesday.