Advance warning to Big Nine girls’ soccer coaches: Jamie Nieland is not the only goal scorer for Austin.

Wednesday, September 15, 1999

Advance warning to Big Nine girls’ soccer coaches: Jamie Nieland is not the only goal scorer for Austin.

Although, she still is the Packers’ best offensive weapon.

Nieland and Co. continued to play well as a team as they dominated the Mankato East Cougars 6-1 Tuesday night at Wescott Field.

Austin wasted no time winning its fourth straight game with Nieland, a senior forward, having a hand in Austin’s first three goals.

Sophomore Katy McClain put Austin ahead 1-0 only 13 seconds into the game. McClain and Nieland traded a few passes before Nieland set McClain up for the shot and her first goal of the year.

"We certainly would have liked to have to touched the ball before it hit the back of the net," third-year West coach Cam Pagani said. "We came out a little timid. We’re not quite at Austin’s level."

Timid might be putting it lightly. The Cougars only managed one shot on Austin goalie Kelly Peterson in the first half. Peterson, a junior, remained undefeated in goal this year.

After McClain’s goal, Nieland scored her 10th goal of the season on an assist from Sarah Huffer less than 10 minutes into the game.

Nieland added another goal with 12:39 remaining in the first half.

The Packers were ahead 4-0 going into halftime after McClain scored her second goal of the game with just under a minute remaining. McClain’s goal was assisted by Huffer and Melanie Gabrielson.

East (0-5-1), like Austin, is in its fourth year with a soccer program. The two schools split last year with Austin winning at home, but losing 4-2 at Mankato after being ahead 2-0.

Emily Vogel, who was playing in only her sixth soccer game ever, scored for the Cougars with about five minutes into the second half to make it 4-1.

Freshman Emily Lorenzen and Caryn Sisson scored Austin’s final two goals.

After only getting goals from Nieland in their first three games, Austin has had multiple scorers in the past three games, including seven different against La Crescent last Saturday and four different against East.

The beneficiary from and in many ways the cause of Austin’s increased scoring balance has been Nieland, who is on pace to shatter her own school record for goals in a season.

Nieland, who scored one goal her freshman season, 12 as a sophomore and 24 last year, has been triple teamed at times but Austin’s balanced scoring attack has left defenses guessing.

"At the beginning, I was the only one shooting," Nieland said. "But tons of people can shoot on this team."

"We’re coming together," Austin coach David Ingalls said. "We’re more balanced with our scoring and we’ve had good teamwork lately. That’s exciting because that’s what it takes to beat the good teams.

Ingalls said Austin’s increasingly stingy defense has also been key to the recent upswing.

"The defense has really put it together," the second-year coach said, pointing out the play of Sisson, Rachel Burzinski and Kasha Kluezny.

Austin (4-1-1) will host Albert Lea at Wescott Field Thursday.

Austin boys fall to Cougars

The Austin High boys’ soccer team lost 4-3 to Mankato East at Mankato Tuesday night.

Jimmy Reetz gave Austin a 1-0 lead with a goal off of Chris Lynch’s assist. Lynch had two assists in the game.

East led 2-1 at halftime.

Drew Osterle and Mike Inthisane had Austin’s other two goals.

The Packers (1-4-1) will be at Albert Lea on Thursday.