The Austin boys soccer team cracked down on defense and blanked Faribault (3-2 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) 1-0 in Art Hass Stadium Thursday.

Austin took the lead for good when Sean Baker fired off a 40-yard pass to the net that Josh Snee was able to jump up and head in with 20 minutes left in the first half. The goal was described as a blur by both players involved and it took a while for the Austin sideline to realize the ball had gotten to the net and the score would stand.

Baker said he was trying to put the ball in a place where one of his teammates could get to it.

“It was definitely a hopeful pass to the back post for someone to head it in. It was kind of a blur,” Baker said. “There was a pile of bodies and I saw the ball in the back of the net. I was happy.”

The Packers (3-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) have allowed just one goal in three games and that was one score was on a penalty kick. Austin keeper Chris Kirchgatter made 19 saves Thursday to get his second shutout in net.

Most of the Faribault’s shots came from more than 15 yards from the net.

“The defense played strong without question,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “We also want to constantly be trying to figure out how we need to improve. When we give a guy a little space, we don’t want to give him that space.”

Each team had a shot go off the post in the second half and the intensity of the game picked up when a yellow card was handed out after Austin’s Matias Parada and Faribault’s keeper got tangled up with 22 minutes left in the game.

Levisen thought his team reacted to the card by playing a little too fast down the stretch.

“We don’t need to be going that hard with twenty two minutes left. We’ve got to slow down and see our passes too,” Levisen said. “Everything was almost like pins and needles like go, go, go since the card.”

Snee said the Packers have been able to be consistent this season by playing together.

“We’re keeping the defense tight and we’re all trusting each with the ball,” Snee said. “We just trying to stay calm and manage the game. We didn’t want any long balls.”