When Austin head girls soccer coach Enrique Camarena-Corzo took over a program that had just six wins in its previous three campaigns last summer, he was probably hoping to eventually have a night like the one the Packers had Tuesday.

Austin (2-1 overall, 1-0 Big Nine) controlled the ball for much of the night and it beat Albert Lea (2-2 overall, 0-1 Big Nine) for the first time in seven years with a 2-0 victory in Art Hass Stadium.

Austin had lost a playoff game 1-0 to top seeded Albert Lea to end last year’s postseason, but this time the outcome was different.

“I think we saw it last year and it takes time,” Camarena-Corzo said of his program’s improvement. “Last year we shouldn’t have lost and the beautiful thing now is we have a young group and we have three full teams with varsity, JV and C-Squad.”

The Packers opened the game on a flurry as they attempted three shots near the goal in the first four minutes that came close.

Then Austin took all of the momentum when Brianna Byam, a senior, lined up a 50-yard free kick and launched over the reach of Albert Lea keeper Hannah DeVries’s reach to put Austin up 1-0 in the fifth minute of the game.

“We’ve haven’t beaten them in forever,” Byam said. “I’ve been on the team for six years and making the first goal (tonight) was amazing. We started building our confidence last year, and we’re growing from there.”

Byam said she had hit from 50-yards out a few times over the summer and Austin keeper Chloe Summerfield, a freshman, was definitely giving her the green light.

“Every game I tell her to take that shot and then she goes out there and does it tonight,” Summerfield said.

Summerfield played a big role in the win as she finished with 11 saves, including three diving stops to keep the Tigers scoreless. It was the first shutout of Summerfield’s varsity career.

“I think if it wasn’t for the amazing keeper we have, it could’ve been different,” Camarena-Corzo said. “The defense controlled the shots and we worked together pretty well.”

Austin took a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute when sophomore Carolyn Hackel made a pin-point crossing pass to senior Carley Grunewald, who tapped in her third goal of the season right next to the net.

Camarena-Corzo said that he was pleased with how his team established itself in the first half.

“When you play a rival, you need to play your best and play with heart,” he said. “When you play at home, you better show respect to the fans who came to see you play.”

The Packers have come a long way as they begin their second year under Camarena-Corzo and Summerfield said the team is still getting better.

“We’re trusting everyone and coach motivates us every day. He’s a really good coach,” she said.