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Austin’s Ellery Ravenhorst and Albert Lea’s Margeret Schultz battle for position in Art Hass Stadium Tuesday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Lauren Nelson defends against Albert Lea’s Hannah Schumacher. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Emma Clark rushes to defend on Albert Lea’s Margaret Olson in Art Hass Stadium Tuesday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Callie McRae tries to manuever against the Albert Lea defense near the net in Art Hass Stadium Tuesday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin keeper Kimberly Hernandez Aguliar positons herself to make a save against the Tigers. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Austin girls soccer team put together its best effort of the season in all aspects, but it wasn’t able to end up on top as the Packers fell to the Tigers 1-0 in Art Hass Stadium Tuesday.

Austin (0-4 overall) maintained possession for much of the night and it was able to generate five shots, with Adah Baron and Callie McRae applying pressure up front. Defensively, senior keeper Kimberly Hernandez Aguilar stopped eight of the nine shots she saw in net and Felicia Thimmesch stopped two shots in relief.

“We put all that we had on the field tonight. We should be proud of that,” said Austin senior captain Hannah Broberg said. “The main thing we did tonight that kept the defense going well was that we communicated. We were talking the entire game.”

The Packers were the aggressors for stretches of the game, but the Tigers were able to hold them off in the late minutes of the game.

The first half was evenly played as both teams split possession, but the Tigers (2-1 overall) seized a 1-0 lead when Aliyah Heideman connected on a penalty kick with 8:39 left in the first half.

Austin head coach Amber Rochat said her team has been stressing communication and passing lately and those things are starting to come along.

“The girls did what they needed to do and they’re really fired up to get some wins on the board. We talk about pressure, power and patience and intertwining communication with that is really increasing our opportunities on the field,” Rochat said. “A lot of the girls are gaining self confidence in themselves and they’re teammates. We always want to push and uplift each other, whether we were on the field or on the bench. I think we really showed who we were as a team tonight.”