Austin Packers boys’ hockey falls to Faribault Saturday 6-1

The Austin Packers boys’ hockey team was looking for its first conference win of the season Saturday as they hosted the Faribault Falcons in a Big 9 Conference matchup at Riverside Arena.  The Packers were held off the scoreboard until the third period and Noah Murphy tallied a goal and two assists to help lead the Falcons to a 6-1 win.

Murphy assisted on a goal by Kory Johnson at 7:38 of the first period to put Faribault in front 1-0, and Grady Goodwin’s goal only :07 into the second period proved to be the eventual game-winner.  Murphy assisted on Luke Vinar’s even-strength tally at 11:20 to increase the Falcon lead to 3-0 after two, and two more goals in the third period made it 5-0 when Cooper Guttormson tallied the lone goal of the game for Austin at 14:01 with assists to Aiden Pepper and Jameson Johnson to make a 5-1 game.  Murphy’s goal with :58 left accounted  for the final score.

Sam Eyre was peppered with 58 shots in the net for Austin and made 52 saves while Spencer Ell turned away 32 of the 33 shots he face in net for Faribault to earn the win.  The Packers are now 0-5 in the Big 9 Conference at 1-9 overall on the season, and they return to action Tuesday night at Riverside Arena against defending Section 1A champion Minnesota River, with face-off at 7:15 p.m.