The game was tied 2-2 in overtime, with both Austin and Bemidji seeking a first soccer state tournament victory in program history, when the Lumberjacks were whistled for a foul. It set up a Packers free kick from 25 yards out.

Austin captain Samuel Bailey immediately started flailing his arms in the air, in anticipation of victory.

Lonyjera Okal was set to kick. The senior had already scored on a similar free kick earlier in the game for his 26th goal of the season. From straight on, Okal fired a liner over Bemidji’s wall of defenders and through sophomore goalie Jedidiah Bitter’s hands for the victory.

“He has been taking free kicks all year for us,” said Bailey, a senior. “I think he has four or five goals on only eight shots. He pulled through at the end and won the game.”

Okal’s game-winning kick dropped Bitter to his knees. His Bemidji teammates comforted him immediately. Without the goalkeeper’s performance, especially his four saves in the first half, the game never would have reached extra time.

Bitter was thrust into action just five minutes into the game when starting goalkeeper Adam Laakso left with a lower leg injury.

The Lumberjacks took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Ben Hess in the first half and then held the Big Nine Conference’s highest-scoring offense scoreless to the intermission. But the Packers (18-0-2) scored netted two goals in the 46th minute, first on Okal’s free kick and then a goal by Mooday Wah to secure a 2-1 lead.

With seven minutes left, the Lumberjacks (16-3-2) tied the game off a corner kick on a goal by John Chadwick. That set the stage for overtime and Okal’s second free-kick goal.

“It is his technical ability combined with his maturity,” Austin coach Jens Levisen said of Okal. “With that comes the confidence to take those shots.”

Third-seeded Austin defeated Bemidji 3-2 on Tuesday in the Class 1A boys’ soccer state quarterfinal at Prior Lake High School.

In extra time, Lonyjera Okal scored in the 88th minute on a free kick. It was his second goal of the game, played at Prior Lake High School.

The Packers (18-0-2) controlled possession for the majority of the game and capitalized on an early injury to Lumberjacks senior goalie Adam Laakso.

Laakso suffered what appeared to be an lower body injury and did not return.

Despite trailing 1-0 in the first half, Austin railed back and scored on a free kick from Okal. Then a minute later, Mooday Wah netted a crossing pass from right in front.

Bemidji (16-3-2) scored on a header by Ben Hess from Luke Hess early in the first half, but the Lumberjacks failed to generate any real scoring chances after that.

The Packers advance to the state semifinals after capturing its first state tournament soccer victory in program history. 

Check back later for more on the game.