Boys soccer: Packers pick up 5th straight shutout win
Published 10:44 pm Thursday, September 29, 2016
- Austin’s Corbin Munger takes to the air after the ball in the first half against Rochester Mayo Thursday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys soccer team completed a couple of major accomplishments when it beat Rochester Mayo 1-0 in Art Hass Stadium Thursday.
The Packers (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big Nine) picked up their fifth straight shutout win and they also swept the Rochester schools — Mayo, John Marshall, Century and Lourdes — for the first time in school history.
Austin’s Ojulu Cham, from left, Matias Parada, Abel Gebrekiros and Mooday Wah celebrate Parada’s goal in the first half against Rochester Mayo Thursday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s a beautiful thing to play Mayo and I’ve been looking forward to this one,” Austin junior midfielder Ojulu Cham said. “It was also beautiful to sweep the Rochester teams. That’s never happened before.”
The Packers took an early lead when Matias Parada connected on a 25-yard shot off an assist from Kevin Oritz just three minutes into the game and they continued to put the pressure on the Spartans (6-7-1 overall, 5-3-1 Big Nine) for the rest of the night.
Austin finished with six shots on goal and Chris Kirchgatter made three saves, including a big stop with 4:20 left in the game.
“We’re definitely playing well and firing on all cylinders,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “But we’re still hungry and trying to improve.”
Austin senior Josh Snee spent much of the night shouting out directions to the defense. He’s stepped up as a big leader for a Packer defense that has played five straight overpowering games.
Austin’s Samuel Bailey keeps the ball in play in the first half against Rochester Mayo Thursday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s an honor [to sweep the Rochester schools]. We just came out to play against all of them. Tonight we focused at the end and we got a little scrappy,” Snee said. “We just had to mark everyone in the holes and everyone was keeping their heads up and staying aware the whole time.”
Austin will host Kasson-Mantorville for parent’s night and senior night 7 p.m. Saturday.
