Tigers Squeak Past Lakers

By Pat Rupp

On paper last Saturday’s game between Farmington (11-8) and Prior Lake (2-17) at Schmitz-Maki Arena figured to be a one-sided affair. On the ice not so much as the Tigers squeaked out a 3-2 win over the Lakers.

“Prior Lake is one of those teams whose record is a bit misleading,” Farmington coach Jon Holmes said. “They go hard and have been in quite a few games despite allowing some unfortunate goals.”

Farmington broke on top early with a pair of unanswered first period goals. Jayden Seifert (from Kenna Kadrlik and Abby Gehrke) drew first blood at 5:29 and a couple minutes later Claire Enright made it 2-0 with an unassisted score.

The Tigers dominated play through the first 17 minutes, outshooting the Lakers 17-6 before the tone of the contest turned in the second period.

“We were whistled for four penalties and spent half the period playing shorthanded, at times three-on-five,” Holmes said. “The inconsistency we have shown came back at times and it was certainly a case where we were not playing to the level that we should have been.”

Ava Guillemette scored first for the Lakers but a good penalty kill effort by the Tigers and a second goal by Enright, this one shorthanded, kept the home team ahead 3-1 heading into the final period.

The Lakers outshot the Tigers 10-7 in the third period, but managed just one more goal, Guillemette’s second of the game at 9:53 to end the scoring.

“I thought the third line of Kiersten Wood, Kenna Kadrlik and Abby Gehrke played very well for us,” Holmes said. “They were able to hold themselves accountable for positioning and generated some chances for scoring as well. 

“We were without Brenna Fuhrman again so we had to adjust on the defensive side as well…Ryleigh Furlong (goaltender) made some good saves to ensure we stayed on top which was also very promising.”

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Farmington who currently sit in second place in the South Suburban Conference standings, four points behind league-leading Apple Valley. Lakeville South trails the Tigers by a point with Shakopee, Burnsville and Eastview just two back.

Tuesday night the Tigers make the short trip west to battle Lakeville North at Ames Arena. Thursday Hill-Murray comes to town for a non-conference game and Saturday Eagan invades Schmitz-Maki for a South Suburban tilt.