OWATONNA -- Joel Gaulrapp scored three goals at Owatonna defeated Austin 4-2 in boys soccer on Thursday night in the season opener for each team.
Gaulrapp scored just 20 seconds into the game as the Huskies took an early advantage.
"After that we played pretty well," first-year Austin coach Sam Kolas said.
Owatonna took a 2-0 lead at the half. Senior forward Ivan Esquivel pulled the Packers within 2-1 in the second half and it stay that way much of the half.
"At the end of the game we moved up and had to take some chances," Kolas said. "It was actually a closer game than the score sounded."
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The host Huskies scored two straight goals late to take a 4-1 lead. Austin sophomore Dennis Christenson added a late goal to account for the final margin.
Sean Murphy scored the other goal for Owatonna (1-0)
The Packers (0-1, 0-1 Big Nine) are on the road again today. They play at Caledonia at 7 p.m.
