Kristin Faber left everything she had on the ice to prevent the Packers from going into overtime against Mankato West, including herself.

Faber scored the go-ahead goal from her stomach to help Austin regain the lead it lost only 37 seconds sooner, and her tally proved to be the game-winner.

Mankato West scored two goals in the third period to tie the Packers, but Faber's goal at 11:55 pushed Austin (2-2-0, 1-2-0) through the first round of the second annual Weyerhaeuser Invitational with a 3-2 victory Friday afternoon at Riverside Arena.

Austin's first line of Faber, Courtney Hughes and Jessica Petersen were on the ice for all three Packer goals, including two for Faber.

"She made a nice move on the goalie," AHS coach Denny Bray said of Faber's game-winner.

"I think I fell," Faber said.

With a defender on her left hip, Faber skated the puck on net and swept a backhand past the Mankato West goalie while sliding on her belly. Faber leads the team with four goals and five points through four games this year.

"I thought the forwards probably played better than the defense this game," said AHS sophomore defender Tracy Petersen, who got the game puck from the Packer coaching staff. "I didn't think we played as well as we could have."

Tracy Petersen scored her second goal of the year with 29 seconds left in the first period, pushing a wrister past West goalie Jenny Gorny from the blue line.

Both teams got 23 shots on goal, but the Packers prevented any Mankato West shots during the final 3:42. Erica Ramus' equalizer at 11:18 would be the Scarlets' last shot attempt at Austin's Amy Snyder. The eighth-grade goalie turned away 21 of 23 shots for her first win of the season.

West pulled their goalie with 1:50 to play but could not get a shot on goal with a one-man advantage.

Despite getting out-skated in the second period, the Packers held West scoreless for the full 15 minutes. In two losses, Austin has allowed three goals per second period. The Packers have pitched second-period shutouts in both wins.

"They had more scoring chances than we did in the second period," Bray said. "I didn't think we played very well in that period."

"After the first couple minutes of the game they were outskating us, so I knew they were going to get at least one goal," Tracy Petersen said. "I didn't think they'd get two."

Summary:

Mnk.W002--2

Austin201--3

First Period--1, AUS, Kristin Faber 3 (Jessica Petersen), 3:34. 2, AUS, Tracy Petersen 2, 14:31. Penalties--Kati Radford-Garcia, AUS (tripping), 14:36.

Second Period--None. Penalties--Brittany Sorell, MW (interference), 1:34; Emily Quealy, AUS (checking), 5:10.

Third Period--3, MW, Sorell (K.T. Harrington, Jenny Gray), 1:02. 4, MW, Erica Ramus (Allie Palmer), 11:18. 5, Faber 4 (T.Petersen), 11:55. Penalties--Whitney Hentges, MW (hooking), 4:00; T.Petersen, AUS (tripping), 4:20.

Shots on goal--Mankato West 8-8-7--23. Austin 8-7-8--23.

Power-play Opportunities--Mankato West 0 of 3; Austin 0 of 2.

Goalies--Mankato West, Jenny Gorny (23 shots-20 saves), empty net (13:10 third period, 0-0). Austin, Amy Snyder 1-1-0 (23-21).

First Period--1, AUS, Kristin Faber 3 (Jessica Petersen), 3:34. 2, AUS, Tracy Petersen 2, 14:31. Penalties--Kati Radford-Garcia, AUS (tripping), 14:36.

Second Period--None. Penalties--Brittany Sorell, MW (interference), 1:34; Emily Quealy, AUS (checking), 5:10.

Third Period--3, MW, Sorell (K.T. Harrington, Jenny Gray), 1:02. 4, MW, Erica Ramus (Allie Palmer), 11:18. 5, Faber 4 (T.Petersen), 11:55. Penalties--Whitney Hentges, MW (hooking), 4:00; T.Petersen, AUS (tripping), 4:20.

Shots on goal--Mankato West 8-8-7--23. Austin 8-7-8--23.

Power-play Opportunities--Mankato West 0 of 3; Austin 0 of 2.

Goalies--Mankato West, Jenny Gorny (23 shots-20 saves), empty net (13:10 third period, 0-0). Austin, Amy Snyder 1-1-0 (23-21).