With arch-rival Austin coming to town, there was no lack of intensity for the Albert Lea High School girls’ soccer team.

There was also no lack of scoring opportunities.

The Tigers dominated play from the outset, outshooting the visiting Packers 18-4 while winning 3-0 in a Big Nine game at Hammer Field Thursday night.

&uot;It’s definitely still a rivalry,&uot; said ALHS coach Todd Lange. &uot;It was a fun game. The girls were emotionally pumped up for it. It was a big game for them and they were excited to have a good result.&uot;

All three Albert Lea goals were assisted by sophomore Laura Hillman on corner kicks.

The first, about nine minutes into the game, was scored by Amy Ravenhorst.

Steph Overgaard netted the first of her two goals with about two minutes left in the first half.

Overgaard scored again about midway through the second stanza.

Liz Reynen got the shutout in goal, the Tigers’ first of the year.

Several Tigers played well, according to Lange, including Ravenhorst, Reynen, Anna Sigurdson and forwards Hillman, Brittany Arendt, Stacie Armstrong and Amy Marka.

&uot;They just took a ton of shots, especially Hillman and Marka,&uot; said Lange. &uot;It could have easily been 8-0.&uot;

The junior varsity won 10-0. Scoring were Tessa Christensen, two goals; Lindsey Sorenson, two goals; Kelly Cook, one goal, one assist; Nicole Gilbertson, one goal, one assist; Janelle Vietze, one goal, one assist; Kelley Schreiber, one goal, one assist; Nikki Allard, one goal; Mary Cook, one goal; Lacey Pederson, one assist.

The win by the varsity was the third in a row, improving the Tigers to 3-2-2 overall and 2-1-2 in the Big Nine. They play Saturday at Winona.