Moving on; Packers win first-round Section 1A game against Caledonia 12-0
Published 11:19 pm Tuesday, October 11, 2016
- Austin’s Lonyjera Okal celebrates with teammates and early goal against Caledonia in their first-round matchup in the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys soccer team didn’t waste any time showing why it has its first No. 1 seed in school history. The Packers started fast and they cruised past No. 16 seeded Caledonia (1-17 overall) 12-0 in the first round of the Section 1A tournament in Art Hass Stadium Tuesday.
The Packers (14-2-1 overall) tallied eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the contest and then they took their foot off the gas pedal. Austin head coach Jens Levisen was pleased with how the Packers handled the lop-sided win.
“We’d done enough right away that it was very clear where our level was at compared to them. Not in a disrespectful way, but you could see where things were at,” Levisen said. “We did some things to get some guys some time and get younger guys some time in positions they may be in next year. They kept it respectful and we didn’t have any cheap shots.”
Austin’s Matias Parad puts a shot past Caledonia goalie Noah Myrah during the first half of their first-round matchup in the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Eight different players scored in the win for the Packers as Matias Parada led the way with a hat trick. Nick Young and Lonyjera Okal had two goals and Abel Gebrekiros, Ojulu Cham, Corbin Munger, Pat Sheehan and Brayden Merritt all scored one goal in the win.
Munger, a senior, said the Packers are pleased to have the top seed, but he knows they still have to play their best to keep moving on.
Austin’s Caleb Simerson takes the ball past Caledonia’s Braden Olinger during their first-round matchup in the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We wanted to play well,” Munger said. “These games have a lot of weight, because if you lose you’re out. We just want to keep advancing. We try not to change our mindset and we want to keep our focus.”
Austin will take on No. 8 Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the Section 1A quarterfinals 7 p.m. Thursday. PIZM beat No. 9 La Crescent 1-0 Tuesday.
Austin’s Kevin Ortiz plays the ball in Caledonia territory during the first half of their first-round matchup in the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com