By Eric Johnson, Austin Daily Herald

AUSTIN &045; Austin’s David Seibel was a popular name over the intercom Friday

night at Riverside Arena during the Packers game against Albert Lea

after scoring all three of Austin’s goals in their 3-2 overtime win.

“It’s ridiculous,” Seibel said grinning. “Now I know what Tim (Kirby) feels like.”

Seibel scored the game-winner at 4:30 in overtime completing a

stellar game for the senior that turned a deja vu moment from last

year into a positive.

In a similar scenario Austin lost in overtime last year at this point

in the season to Albert Lea.

“We deserve to win,” head coach Troy Holtz said. “We played hard and

had a lot of shots on goal.”

The game started out with a lot of back and forth action. But things changed

quickly in the second period as Albert Lea fought to even get the

puck out of their own end.

That effort by the Packers resulted in Seibel’s first goal of the

night at just over a minute remaining, a ricochet of a shot from Tim

Kirby. Isaiah Wright was also credited with an assist on the play.

Albert Lea showed up at the end of the period but couldn’t make good

on a power play.

The Tigers finally got on the board at 8:06 of the third on their

second power play of the night resulting from a jostling of sticks

and bodies in front of Packers’ goalie Alex Peterson. The puck was

ultimately knocked in by Lucas Hanson with Adam Royce assisting.

“I think we came out in the third a little better than the second,”

Tigers’ head coach Roy Nystrom said.

Seibel gave Austin back the lead on a nifty spin move in the right

circle at 12:38 on Austin’s first power play of the game with Kirby

again assisting.

Austin appeared to be on their way to taking the game until Albert

Lea’s Hanson knocked a shot over Peterson to tie the game at two apiece. Austin quickly contested the shot saying it was deflected in

by a glove, but was later determined that the shot was knocked in by

a stick.

“We win the game and make it a non issue,” Holtz said to his team between the third and overtime periods. “That’s a simple way to

decide it.”

Soon after Seibel did the deciding, completing the hat trick.

“I’m impressed with the way Austin played tonight,” Roy Nystrom said.

“I’m not dismayed at all.

The team that came and played the hardest

won.”

Austin finished the game, outshooting Albert Lea, 47-27.

The win is a bright point for Austin after a 8-1 shellacking by the Tigers earlier in the year.

“It shows all these people,” Holtz said. “Stuff just happens like

that. The kids have worked really hard.”

Friday’s game could well be a set up for the Section 1A tournament

which could come down to the same two teams. Albert Lea is seeded No. 1 and Austin No. 2. Austin opens the tournament on Thursday hosting

the winner of the Sleepy Eye/St. Mary-Waseca game.

Albert Lea faces the winner of Windom and Luverne Thursday at City Arena at 7 p.m.

“No disrespect to the other teams, but I expect to see Albert Lea in the finals,” Holtz said.