The Austin boys soccer team continued its strong play on defense, but they couldn’t find a goal as they settled for a 0-0- tie with Como Park (0-2-3 overall) in Art Hass Stadium Saturday.

Austin keeper Chris Kirchgatter stopped all of the 22 shots he saw and he made a game-saving leaping, one-handed tip save on a bullet from Como with 3:27 left in the game.

“I kind of saw where it was going. There was a bunch of bodies to the point where it was a blur. I just kind of got my hand on it,” Kirchgatter said of the big save. “I’ve got to thank my defense for helping me out. It’s not just one person, it’s the whole team.”

Kirchgatter now has three shutouts on the season and he the only goal he has allowed was on a penalty kick in a 2-1 win over Mankato West.

Austin (3-0-1 overall) had a couple of late chances to win the game as Sean Baker shot a 20-yard free kick just over the net with 1:24 left in the contest and the Packers couldn’t convert a corner kick in the closing minute. In all, Austin had 10 shots on goal.

Austin head coach Jens Lens Levisen said he wants his team to work for better looks.

“We don’t want to be knocking shots just 25 or 30 yards out,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “Not that we don’t have guys that can hit that shot, but it’s going to make them more uncomfortable if you’re blazing that shot from 15 yards out.”

Although they didn’t finish it with a win, the Packers were glad to have a quality non-conference match-up against a quality opponent like Como Park. Levisen said the match was good for both teams.

“We’ve had them on the schedule for a number of years and I think both sides really value that we get to play each other and both sides benefit from it,” Levisen said.