Boys soccer: Packers settle for tie with Raiders, but will likely have No. 1 seed
Published 4:34 pm Saturday, October 8, 2016
- Austin’s Josh Snee gets in front of Northfield’s Joel Alvarado during the first half Saturday afternoon. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Whenever the Austin and Northfield boys soccer teams meet, it seems to go down to the wire. The Packers and Raiders had another battle and this one ended in a tie by a final score of 2-2 in the regular season finale in Art Hass Stadium Saturday.
The last three times Austin and Northfield met, the game was tied after regulation and overtime, including last year’s playoff win when Austin had to get past the Raiders in a shootout.
Austin’s Ojulu Cham puts a foot in to challenge Northfield’s Matteo Lombardo during the first half Saturday afternoon at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
On Saturday, Matias Parada tied things up 2-2 on a penalty kick with 15:39 left in the game.
“We started off a little shoddy and they outplayed us a little bit,” Parada said. “Their formation was not what we wanted so we changed our team play to shut down their two center mids and once those guys weren’t getting the ball, they had no possession. Today we were just missing that little bit of magic to get that last goal.”
Northfield (11-3-3 overall, 8-1-3 Big Nine) took a 2-1 lead into halftime as Matteo Lombardo scored a pair of goals. In the second half, the Packers (13-2-1 overall, 8-2-1 Big Nine) controlled possession for most of the game as they out-shot the Raiders 25-8.
Austin’s Lonyjera Okal vies with Northfield’s Jack Fox during the first half Saturday at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Kevin Ortiz scored Austin’s first goal on a put-back in the first half and Chris Kirchgatter had six saves.
The tie puts Austin in second place in the Big Nine for the season, but more importantly it gives the Packers the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Section 1A tournament. That means Northfield will end up on the same side of the bracket as Rochester Lourdes.
“I knew that if we were to come out and lose [today], it could be a toss up in terms of who’s the number one,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “If we do get that one seed, that puts the two of them facing each other if they keep winning, which they should because they’re both quality teams.”
Tucker Nelson turns for the ball against Northfield in Art Hass Stadium Saturday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers had one of their better regular seasons in history, but they’re not about to start counting their achievements yet. Parada said the team has one clear goal as it looks forward to the postseason, which begins 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“Our team’s goal is definitely to go to state. Our sights are set high to go to state and do well and I think we can do that,” Parada said.
Austin’s Isaac Arnold leaps to move the ball ahead in the first half against Northfield Saturday afternoon at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
