Tigers Rip Century; Advance to Semis

by Pat Rupp

After netting just two goals in their last two games before the Christmas break, the Tigers scored in bunches Monday night in an 8-0 romp past Section 1AA rival Rochester Century in the quarterfinals of the Louis Schmitz Holiday Classic played at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

The win vaulted Farmington into a Tuesday night semifinal match-up with former Missota Conference foe Holy Angels.

“We had a relatively slow first period but came back in the second and played our style of hockey,” Tiger coach Jon Holmes said. “It is always sweet getting that first win in your own tourney, but it is double sweet when it is against a section opponent.”

Ellie Moser (3 goals, assist) and Maddi Oines (2 goals, 2 assists) sparked the offensive fireworks against the Panthers of the Big Nine Conference with four points apiece.

Moser, the team’s leading goal-getter with 21, scored twice in the opening period to stake her team to an early lead.

Moser completed her hat trick in a second period that saw the Tigers outshoot the overmatched visitors by a whopping 22-4.

Oines found the back of the net twice in the second frame and Jenna Gerold notched her fifth of the year to give the home team a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the third period.

Bailey Kelley and Savannah Tucker added scores in the final period to account for the margin of victory.

Tucker and Kelley each finished with a two-point night with a goal and an assist apiece. Marissa Agerter chipped in with a pair of assists.

All in all, nine different Tigers got into the scoring act with Kenna Cavanaugh, Carly Simon, Megan Bernu and Emily Rubins each recording an assist.

Tiger goalie Emily Auge pitched her second shutout of the season with a 15-save effort. With the whitewash, Auge lowered her season goal-against average to a stingy 1.83.

“Despite not seeing a ton of action, Emily had her hands full a couple times as we got a little lax in our d-zone and transitional coverage,” Holmes said.

Farmington finished the contest with a dominant 48-15 advantage in shots on goal.

Holmes said both of his top two lines had a good night and he was “extremely pleased” with the work of the trio of Tucker, Cavanaugh and Gerold.

“Not only did they play well defensively, but they also had numerous offensive chances,” he said.

The Tiger coach also had some words of praise for his defenders who did a good job of keeping the puck on the perimeter.

“They are playing with more confidence every time they get on the ice,” he said.

The semifinal match-up with Holy Angels figures to be a good one. The two schools dominated the old Missota for many years. Farmington enters the game with a 7-3-3 mark; the Stars are 7-8 after a 5-4 overtime win over Northfield in Monday’s quarterfinals.