The Austin girls hockey team started fast but slowed down in a 6-2 loss at Mayo Thursday.

Although they put up just three shots in the first period, the Packers (4-8-2 overall, 1-6 Big Nine) scored twice off two goals by Ashley Arhart within a minute to take a 2-0 lead.

But Mayo responded with a goal by Mary Grace Flesher 23 seconds later, and the Spartans added three more scores in the second period to take the lead for good.

“We played pretty hard in the first period,” Austin head coach Denny Bray said. “In the second period, we kind of let them run the ice.”

Mayo outshot Austin 40-14 on the night.

The Packers were playing without seniors Kyli Ellingson and Catherine Wagner.

Austin 2 0 0 — 2

Mayo 1 3 2 — 6

First period

(A) Ashley Arhart (Alex Larson) (shorthanded) 15:36

(A) Arhart 16:24

(M) Mary Grace Flesher (Keri Pickel) 16:47

Second period

(M) Melena Nelson 8:19

(M) Mackenzie McCormack (Katie Trangsrud) 13:46

(M) Pickel (Flesher, Anna Billings) 14:44

Third period

(M) Flesher (Pickel) 1:30

(M) Courtney Schubauer (Billings) 4:20