Packers girls soccer team edges out Fairmont
Published 9:58 pm Monday, September 15, 2008
The Austin girls soccer team controlled the tempo and overcame some close calls in a 1-0 win over Fairmont in Art Hass Stadium Monday.
The Packers (2-4-1 overall) only goal was scored by Anna Anderson with 10:01 left in the first half. Anderson fought a ball away from two Cardinal defenders, eluded them and sank a shot into the top of the net. Anderson, a senior, also had three goals in Austin’s 4-2 win over St. Peter Saturday.
“It’s just been kind of natural for me lately,” she said. “It’s been working out for me.”
Anderson’s shot was one of 20 Packer attempts on the night and it could’ve easily been a three goal win for the Packers. At the end of the first half, Tina Vorphal launched a shot from about 20 yards out that found the back of the net — about two seconds after time ran off.
“She scored in my book,” Anderson said.
The Packers also had a highlight goal taken away eight minutes into the second half. On the play, Anderson made a great side kick to Rachel Sherman on the left wing, who booted it in. However, Sherman was called off side.
“Rachel was in a good spot and I think the (Fairmont) girl stepped up and put her in an offside spot,” Austin head coach Mark Raymond said. “The three passes ahead of it were absolutely beautiful. We got everything we wanted. If it was six to eight inches farther back that shot counts.”
Those missed opportunities almost came back to haunt Austin as Fairmont ended up with three corner kicks in the last minute and Brianna Lund missed a shot from near the goal for the Cardinals with about 40 seconds left.
“It was a bit of pressure, but we came out with the win,” Austin goal keeper Maing Garcia said.
Garcia, a freshman, got her first career shutout by collecting 11 saves on the night. She got a boost from her defensive teammate Nicole Lipari early in the first half. When Garcia fell down on a shot attempt by Fairmont, Lipari, an eighth grader, stepped in to block the attempt.
“We talk a lot and its just a great honor to have her as a defender,” Garcia said.
Raymond said it was Austin’s midfield that kept them in the game.
“I’m really happy with how our middle controlled the game. Nina Blazevic and Tina Vorphal, controlled the center of the field and allowed us to transition,” he said. “We’re starting to come around over the past few games. Good things happen when we do things right.”