The Austin girls hockey team got a little too physical in the third period as it lost 3-2 to Willmar in the Austin Merchants Holiday tournament in Riverside Arena Tuesday.

The Packers (7-8-2 overall) committed four third period penalties that eventually wore down their top line as Willmar (9-6 overall) scored two third period goals to take the lead for good. Anne Johnston hit a breakaway slap-shot to tie the game at 2-2 and Riley Schneider scored a put-back goal to make it 3-2 with 4:38 left in the game.

Austin had a power play for the last minute and a half of the game, but it could not score. Austin head coach Brett Vesel was not pleased with the penalties his team picked up in the third.

“That’s not us. That’s not what I teach them,” he said. “As much as I love football, I don’t teach them to go in there and knock people down and hit people. We lost it today, we really did. But we learned we can’t beat a good team doing that stuff. Despite losing, we learned something today.”

Austin led 2-0 after Madison Overby scored off a turnover in the second period and Myia Hoium scored Austin’s first goal on a first period slap shot. Hoium was skating with the second line to give the Packers balance against a deep Willmar squad.

“We mixed up the lines today because Willmar has a good first and second line,” Vesel said. “It worked for two periods and it probably would’ve worked in the third period if we would’ve stayed out of the penalty box. We started to get tired and when the same three girls are out there for a long time, it doesn’t help.”

Austin will finish tournament play when it hosts Albert Lea Wednesday at 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

Willmar 0 1 2 — 3

Austin 1 1 0 — 2

First period

(A) Myia Hoium (Chloe Summerfield) 7:55

Second period

(A) Madison Overby (Hoium) 4:35

(W) Anne Johnston (power play) 10:31

Third period

(W) Johnston (Hannah Kobienia) 2:23

(W) Riley Schneider (Shelby Schneider) 13:22

Shots: Austin — 23; Willmar — 33