A bitter sting: Packers miss out on state after 1-0 loss to Northfield
Published 11:33 pm Tuesday, October 18, 2016
- Austin’s Josh Snee plays the ball in front of Northfield’s Joel Alvarado during the second half of the Section 1A title game Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — The No. 1 Austin boys soccer team fell behind early and couldn’t find the equalizer as it had its season come to a halt in a 1-0 loss to No. 2 seeded Northfield in the Section 1A title game in RCTC Stadium in Rochester Tuesday.
It was the third straight year the Packers had their season come to end in the Section 1A title game.
Austin’s Lonyjera Okal can’t quite get the ball past Northfield goalie Cristian Fuentes-Rivera during the first half of the Section 1A title game Tuesday in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s awful. We had such a great season with a bunch of great guys. It’s tough,” Austin senior defender Josh Snee said. “We’ll never forget a season like this. It was awesome. A season doesn’t come down to one game.”
The Raiders (14-3-3 overall) struck early in the contest as Max Felland found the back of the net from 40-yard out just five minutes into the contest. From that point on, the top seeded Packers (16-3-1 overall) began hammering away as they out-shot the Raiders 12-8.
Austin’s Caleb Simerson carries the ball past Northfield’s Max Felland during the first half f the Section 1A title game Tuesday in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Abel Gebrekiros had a shot go off the cross bar in the first half, he nearly drew a penalty kick late in the game, and his pass to an open Lonyjera Okal was just a hair off with three minutes left in the game.
“We gave them what we had,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “We took some knocks and had some close shots where you wondered if it should’ve been a penalty. All season long we’ve talked about playing until the whilst and not being dependent on a call. We were real close at the end too. The kids fought right through all of it.”
Austin’s Samuel Bailey tries to put a shot past Northfield’s Rylie Wefel during the first half f the Section 1A title game Tuesday in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Snee said the Packers were motivated for the entire contest.
“Right after that goal, we just started pushing,” Snee said. “We had so many opportunities. Tonight just wasn’t our night.”
Chris Kirchgatter had seven saves in the loss for Austin.
Austin will graduate 12 seniors from this year’s varsity squad, but the Packer JV team went undefeated and allowed just six goals this season.
Austin’s Josh Snee comforts teammate Matias Parada after the Packers 1-0 loss to Northfield Tuesday night in the Section 1A championship match in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
