The Tigers soccer team showed an aggressive offense in a 6-2 to win at Austin Tuesday night.

Albert Lea poured on four second half goals after leading 2-1 at the half.

“It was a well played game and they looked every bit of the returning section champion that they are,” Austin head coach Mark Raymond said. “They played a real physical and clean game. My hats off to them, they moved the ball around.”

Morgan Stadheim, who finished with two goals, got the scoring started for the Tigers two minutes into the game when she scored from the right side. Over twenty minutes later, Chelsey LeBrun scored her first of two goals to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

LeBrun and Stadheim scored back-to-back goals to start the second half. But Austin’s Rachel Needham scored a put back goal to make it 4-2 with just under 30 minutes left in the game.

Albert Lea’s Taylor Freihl added two scores on passes from Madi Passingham to close it out for the Tigers.

“It was some phenomenal performance,” Tigers head coach Rick Barnhill said. “I think we hit the crossbar six times.”

Albert Lea was without some strong offensive performers as well. Abbey Arends, Jenna Christensen, and Ariel Christensen were all out nursing various injuries and those three combined for 35 goals last season.

“There’s just no way I could figure we could score six,” Barnhill said. “It was some of the best finishing and passing I’ve seen here in the five years I’ve been here.”

The Tigers also finished strong at the Byron Invitational over the weekend, grabbing the consolation championship by defeating John Marshall 2-1 in penalty kicks. Goalkeeper Stephanie Ferguson turned away five penalty shots and scored the tying penalty to help give Albert Lea the win. The Tigers reached the consolation round after beating Winona 7-0 earlier in the tournament.