If the Austin boys soccer team had any nerves playing their last home game of the season, it sure didn’t show as they blasted No. 5 seeded Winona (10-8-1 overall) 9-1 in a Section 1A semifinal game in Art Hass Stadium Saturday night.

Austin will now pursue its first state berth since 2009 when it plays Northfield in the Section 1A title game at RCTC Stadium in Rochester at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The game was the last home contest for all of the Austin seniors and they made it count. Matias Parada netted a hat trick as he scored two second half goals to put the finishing touches on the win for the top-seeded Packers (16-2-1 overall).

“This was a really fun last home game,” Parada said. “It was a good way for all of us seniors to go out on this field. I’m going to miss this field a lot and I’m going to miss the fan section especially. I’m confident we have the biggest fan section in the section. They’re amazing with their support.”

Although the final score was nearly as lop-sided as Austin’s first two postseason wins, Winona was able to put some pressure on the Packers as Chris Kirchgatter had to make eight saves, including a couple of tough ones early on. Kirchgatter, a senior, has been playing varsity soccer since he was a sophomore and he feels the Packers are playing the right way at the right time.

“It was a good preparation for Tuesday,” Kirchgatter said. “We played solid defense and we had some rhythm. We have some seniors who were here last year and we know what this is like. We’ve just got to go in there with our heads high.”

Austin got on the board when Abel Gebrekiros scored his first of two goals with 24:13 left in the first half. Then Lonyjera Okal, who had two goals, Sam Bailey and Parada all scored in a six-minute stretch to make it 4-0 Austin at halftime.

Winona got within 5-1 on a 30-yard direct kick, but the Packers, who had 25 shots, scored the last four goals of the game. Bradyen Merritt scored the final goal of the night for Austin.

“It was a relentless effort on our end. We wanted to come out and make it happen so their defense couldn’t get set. We were continually trying to create opportunities,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “We’re firing on all cylinders and we’ve got guys off the bench that are stepping in and playing well. I was a little concerned we would develop a few bad habits after the last couple of games, but they were able to show consistency.”

Austin has outscored its opponents by a total score of 34-2 in the first three postseason games, but the Packers will have a much tougher contest on Tuesday. Northfield and Austin tied at 2-2 last week and the Packers edged out the Raiders in a shootout in last year’s Section 1A semfinals. Northfield beat Rochester Lourdes 2-1 on a shootout to get to the final.

“Coming off of three blowouts, we’re going to have to change our mental state a little, because it’s going to be different,” Parada said. “We’re going to have to come out swinging on Tuesday. If there’s an Austin soccer team that’s going to go to state, it’s this team. It’s a special team.”