After losing five of six games to open the season, the Albert Lea boys’ soccer team has finally found an answer — shut out your opponent and you can’t lose.

The Tigers recorded their second straight shutout victory Thursday, beating the Rochester John Marshall Rockets 4-0 on the road.

“This is another step forward,” Albert Lea head coach Elia Romano said. “We’re not only playing well, but we’re scoring goals, and that’s a good sign going into the section tournament.”

The Section 1A tournament is still three weeks away — but the Tigers are 3-1-1 since September 18 — and have held their opponent scoreless four times during that stretch.

The Tigers got their first goal of the game 23 minutes into the first half, on a Tyler Shaw goal assisted by Cal Pirsig.

The two hooked up again with 10 minutes left in the opening half, as Shaw returned the favor and fed Pirsig for the game’s second goal.

Albert Lea took a 2-0 lead to halftime and held that same lead until their scored twice with under 10 minutes left in the game.

Alik Smed put the Tigers ahead 3-0 on an Anthony Tate assist with seven minutes left in the game.

Four minutes later, Spencer Overgaard found Pirsig for his second goal, and the Tigers’ fourth.

Romano called Pirsig’s second goal possibly the best all season.

“Once again it started with chances,” Romano said. “We’re not scoring scrappy goals anymore, they’re quality goals.

The Tigers play at Byron on Saturday, the team that eliminated them in overtime last season in the section tournament.