The Packer soccer team was a little overwhelmed early in a 3-0 loss to Owatonna (4-2 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) in Art Hass Stadium Monday.

Austin (4-2-1 overall, 1-2-1 Big Nine) allowed two early goals in the first 16 minutes of the game and it never recovered.

The Packer offense didn’t get going in the first 40 minutes, as Austin couldn’t maintain possession.

“They started out scared,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “In the first half they were a little in awe and a little unsure of themselves. They didn’t play the way they are capable of playing. They resorted to kicking it long as opposed to playing the passes and keeping our heads in it.”

Both of Owatonna’s first two goals were nearly stopped by Austin goal keeper Ryan Rasell, who had six saves on the night. Owatonna’s Mohamed Haji scored the first goal when he shot right at Rasell from about 15 yards away. The ball just slid under Rasell’s hands to get to the net.

The Huskies scored less than two minutes later on a penalty kick by Jovanny Santibanez. Rasell almost made a great save on the play as he dove to his right and got a piece of the shot. But it trickled off his finger tips.

“He got a hand on both of them (in the first half),” Levisen said. “Getting a hand on a PK is a big thing and that might of been a shell shock thing from the guy who was taking the shot. They knew who different guys were (on Owatonna) and who was All-Conference. But you can’t go in scared.”

Austin attempted most of its six shots in the second half and Luis Ruiz almost put the Packers on the board halfway through the second half when his shot hit the top post.

“If just one of those shots would’ve gone in, it would’ve completely turned around the second half,” Levisen said. “It could’ve given us a burst.”

SCORING SUMMARY

First half

(O) Mohamed Haji 14:50

(O) Jovanny Santibanez 16:13

Second half

(O) Lukas Kopfer 7:30