Win Streak Snapped at Four

by Pat Rupp

The Tigers’ four-game win streak came to an abrupt halt last week with back-to-back losses to Eden Prairie and Burnsville.

Farmington battled fifth-rated Eden Prairie to a virtual draw for most of the game Thursday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena in a tough 3-1 loss. Back on the home ice Saturday night it was a different story altogether in a 3-0 shutout defeat at the hands of the Blaze.

The two losses dropped the Tigers below the.500 mark at 4-5 for the season; 4-3 in South Suburban Conference play.

“All in all, we played a pretty solid game against a very good Eden Prairie team,” Farmington coach Jon Holmes said.  “We were without Claire (Enright) again and the forwards stepped up to play nicely. 

“We had our chances and we did a nice job limiting theirs. It was a very defensive game on purpose from our stand point. We did not want to get into an open ice skating match with them, so we kept things outside and did a nice job of limiting their shots”

The Eagles and Tigers skated to a scoreless tie in the opening period with Gretchen Bauer putting the visitors on the board with a power play goal midway through the second.

Farmington’s Carly Lancaster (from Grace Auge and Sadie Long) answered on the power play three minutes into the final frame but the Eagles’ Carrie Byrnes responded almost immediately for the eventual game-winner. Sydney Langseth made it official in the final minute on a seeing-eye long distance shot into an open net.

 “I thought this game was a good indicator of the areas in which we are able to play well,” Holmes said. “It also served as a litmus test for knowing we can skate and beat top teams even without our healthiest bodies.”

Holmes pointed to a lackluster first period as the key to Saturday night’s disappointing conference loss to Burnsville.

“We played the worst first period I have seen us play in a few years,” he said. “It was absolutely atrocious. We watched the film again today and that was certainly confirmed. We were sluggish, followed the puck around like misery to the blues, and did not win key races in our own zone.”

The result was a 2-0 deficit heading to the first break, one that would not be overcome.

“We certainly outplayed them and actually had many, many wonderful scoring chances that did not turn our way,” Holmes said. “We hit pipes, we hit knobs of sticks and just straight up missed open nets. Their goalie played exquisite! We kept them out of our zone but we just could not convert.”

Farmington outshot the Blaze 23-14 over the final two periods but the visitors notched the only goal on a score by Aubrey Nelvin halfway through the second. The shutout was the first suffered by the Tigers this season.

“We were again without Enright,” Holmes said. “We are hoping she is able to return this week because Brenna Fuhrman is leaving to go overseas and play for team USA in the 18U international world championships. 

“We will certainly miss Brenna on our ice but, man, are we super excited to see her sport the USA sweater and represent Farmington for Team USA!  She has earned that honor by being one of the top defenders not only in the state but in the country. Her work ethic is simply amazing.” 

The Tigers close out their pre-holiday schedule with conference home games Tuesday and Saturday against Rosemount and Shakopee.