Hat trick cousins: Austin seniors have grown closer through soccer

Published 4:19 pm Sunday, September 17, 2017

When Austin senior Isabel Leuer recorded the first hat trick of her varsity soccer career last week, she was excited. Her excitement turned into elation when she found out after her game that her first cousin Sam Bailey, who is also a senior, had also recorded his first varsity hat trick on the same night.
While Leuer was pacing the Packer girls soccer team by scoring all three of their goals in a 3-0 win over Faribault in Art Hass Stadium last Tuesday, Bailey scored three goals for the Austin boys soccer team in a 5-1 win over the Falcons on the road.

Sam Bailey, left, met up with his cousin and fellow soccer player Isabel Leuer after the Section 1A title game in 2016. Photo Provided

It was a moment that Bailey and Leuer will likely treasure for awhile as a hat trick is a rare accomplishment and soccer holds a special value for both of them. The Bailey and Leuer families are very close and when they take vacations together, it’s pretty often that a soccer ball is involved in one way or another.
“If we can find open grass, we’ll find a way to play soccer,” Bailey said. “Isabel has a net at her house and I’ll go over there and shoot with her. We try to help each other out.”

Austin’s Sam Bailey, left, and Isabel Leuer, have been friends since they were youths. The two cousins have now grown closer over their bond in soccer. Photo Provided

Bailey began playing soccer at age nine, but Leuer waited until she was in middle school before picking up the sport. Once she started playing, Leuer was instantly hooked. This season she’s made big strides with the Packers as she’s emerged as the team’s leading scorer. Leuer also scored the game-winning goal against Red Wing last week.

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Leuer credited her teammates, coaches and, of course, her cousin for making improvements in soccer.

“I’ve gotten a lot more confident. My teammates have pushed me along and [Austin head coach] Jake [Levisen] has helped me with the passes,” Leuer said. “I definitely look up to Sam when it comes to soccer because he’s so good.”

Bailey plays midfield for a Packer team that is hoping to make a push for its first Minnesota Class A state tournament since 2009 and he’s also stepped up his leadership role as a team captain. He’s embracing his senior year and he’s always in a good mood when he’s out on the pitch.
“I fell in love with the sport right away and all of my siblings followed me,” Bailey said. “I love how the game never stops and you’re constantly running.”

While Bailey and Leuer don’t think they’ll play soccer at the college level, both of them are likely to stay close to the sport and both of them said they’ll likely try to play intramural soccer when they move on to college level. For now, the cousins are focusing on making their senior year the best it can be and they’re embracing the time they have left with the Packers.
Leuer said its hard to match the feeling she gets when she gets out in the open field with the goal in her sights.

“When the adrenaline kicks in during agame, that’s probably the best feeling ever,” Leuer said.
The Austin boys soccer team will play at Byron 7 p.m. on Tuesday and the Austin girls soccer team will host Rochester Century 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Austin’s Isabel Leuer settles the ball against Faribault Tuesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Herald File Photo