Tigers Tip New Prague for Schmitz Classic Crown

by Pat Rupp

Five games into the 2016-17 season the Tigers were 1-4 and looking for answers. In nine games since they have gone 7-1-1 and are the proud owners of the 2016 Louis Schmitz Holiday Classic championship trophy.

The trophy came on the heels of a hard-fought 2-1 win over old Missota Conference rival New Prague Thursday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

Farmington’s championship in the Schmitz Classic is its first since 2011 when they downed Hastings 6-2 for the title.

“We played a pretty solid game from defense to the neutral zone and right on in to the forecheck,” Tiger coach Jon Holmes said. “At the risk of sounding redundant though we had a plethora of prime scoring opportunities again. 

“We just need to make sure we get our eyes up and look before we shoot. Right now we are rushing those grade A spots and not looking at what the goalie is giving us”

The winners never trailed in the championship game against the No. 8 (Class A) ranked Trojans. Jenna Gerold gave the home team the lead for good with a power play goal at 13:28 of the opening period on assists from Megan Bernu and Brenna Fuhrman.

Lexie Budensiek scored what proved to be the game-winner with less than two minutes to play in the second with Kenna Cavanaugh credited with the lone assist.

“Lexie Budensiek had a great learnable moment in the second period,” Holmes said. “First, she came down the ice, had a wonderful feed from Marissa (Agerter) but didn’t get her head up before shooting and found the goalie’s belly.

“But when given the second chance later in the period she held the puck, made the goalie move and found room on the short side. It was a wonderful example of applying experience on the next opportunity. That makes any player and coach grin.”

New Prague’s Haley Dietz netted the Trojan goal midway through the third period but the Tiger defense and goalie Abby Bollig held the fort the rest of the way.

As has been the case in most games this season, the Tigers outshot the opposition, this time by a 31-16 count.

Bollig, who won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award for her stellar play between the pipes, finished with 14 saves. In two games against ranked competition in the tourney, Bollig gave us just two scores.

Gerold, who tallied two goals and two assists as well as a goal in the second round shootout tie with Red Wing, also made the all-tournament squad.

Next week the Tigers roar into the new year against two ranked Class AA teams, Wednesday at No. 2 Maple Grove and Friday at home versus No. 7 Lakeville South.