In a tightly contested match, the Austin boys soccer team managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Owatonna on Thursday evening at Art Hass Stadium. The outcome hinged on the finest of margins, as the Packers faced multiple scoring opportunities late in the game.
In the final 15 minutes, Austin generated five promising chances, with Leo Hernandez coming the closest to clinching victory with a powerful 28-yard free kick that struck the crossbar with just over 11 minutes remaining.
“We were inches away from winning the game. Literally, inches away. It’s frustrating, but it’s soccer,” Hernandez remarked. “We’re improving a lot, and the boys are getting better. From the first game to this game, we’re a completely different team.”
Austin, with an overall record of 1-2-2, found itself in a challenging position early on when Owatonna scored from a penalty kick taken by Jacob Gillespie with just 3 minutes and 20 seconds left in the first half. The Packers equalized when freshman Law Htoo skillfully maneuvered past a defender to find the back of the net, but the celebrations were momentarily dampened by an injury to Austin goalkeeper Kyler Flanders.
Yair Lazaro Aviles stepped in during Flanders’ absence to make two crucial saves, and Flanders returned in the second half, later contributing significantly with a total of eight saves in the match.
“I battled through a headache at the end, but I knew the boys would battle and they would have my back,” said Flanders. “The defense makes my job so easy. I was a little scared at the end, but I have immense confidence in myself.”
Despite not managing to score in the second half, the Packers had several notable attempts, including a near goal from J’dan Stevens, whose 20-yard shot came just moments after a foul was called on the Huskies.
Head coach Jens Levisen viewed the match positively, acknowledging the team’s fighting spirit despite preferring a win to a tie. “We went down early, but the kids kept fighting all game,” Levisen stated. “They’re playing how we want them to play. Owatonna wanted to keep the ball in the air because they’re so much taller, but we wanted to keep it on the ground, and we did that. That created a lot of opportunities.”