Tigers Look to Build Momentum in Section

by Pat Rupp

Back-to-back, season-ending losses, 6-3 at the hands of unbeaten South Suburban Conference champion Lakeville South and a 4-2 setback at Hastings, means the Tigers will have to generate their own momentum heading into this week’s Section 1AA tournament.

Farmington (14-8-3) drew the third seed in the eight-team playoffs and will open post-season play Wednesday night against No. 6 seed Rochester Mayo (9-16-0) at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

“We saw Mayo early in the year (a 9-1 Farmington win), but they have had some major changes and turned their season around winning six of their last seven games,” Farmington coach Jon Holmes said. “We will need to be ready to play from the drop of the first puck.”

Lakeville South 6 Farmington 3

The Cougars won the first meeting between the two teams by a slim 2-1 margin but the rematch Friday night at Schmitz-Maki was a much more wide-open affair.

The teams combined for healthy 66 shots but it was South who found the net with regularity to wrap up their unbeaten season (16-0-2) in conference play.

“It was senior night and the last regular season home game,” Holmes said, “Our youngsters were very aware of it being the last time they might possibly play with their captains (Dani Wright and Maddi Oines) on home ice. It definitely had some effect on them. 

“However, we still did find opportunities but were stifled by (goalie Chloe) Crosby as well as by our own hurried shots.”

The Tigers got 13 shots on goal in the opening period but the only scoring of the period came from the Cougars on goals by Halle Gill and Shelby Schneider.

Marissa Agerter (from Emily Rubins and Oines) gave the home team life with a score early in the second frame but South answered with two of its own to take a 4-1 cushion into the final break.

The visitors upped the margin to 6-1 before the Tigers put a pair of scores on the board in the game’s final 3:08. Jenna Gerold (from Kenna Cavanaugh) netted the first on the power play. Oines unassisted goal capped the night’s scoring.

Farmington won the shots battle 36-30 with Farmington netminder Emily Auge finishing with 24 saves.

Hastings 4 Farmington 2

Less than 18 hours after leaving the Schmitz-Maki ice Friday night the Tigers were in Hastings taking on the Raiders in a non-conference game.

“We came out a little flat and ended a little flat,” Holmes said.  “We played a very inspiring second period, killing off an entire five-minute penalty and scoring a couple times. 

“But in the end, we just didn’t capitalize on some of our point blank opportunities and we were not able to clear those rebounds and traffic out in front of our own net.”

Ellie Moser sandwiched her team-high 29th goal of the season between a pair of Raider goals in the opening period and Agerter’s unassisted second period score tied the count heading into the final period.

Though each team put seven shots on goal in the third Hastings (16-6-3) found the twine twice to take home the victory.

Auge was back in the nets for the Tigers, stopping 22 of 26 shots in the losing effort. The Raiders outshot their guests by a 26-24 count.

“We played hard both games,” Holmes said. “Our effort level was high. I thought the two biggest factors we have to tighten up are clearing rebounds and bodies from in front of the net and reacting to transition quicker.”