Scoring Drought Ends in 6-3 win over Hastings

by Pat Rupp

That big sigh of relief heard coming from the Farmington bench Friday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena belonged to Tiger coach Jon Holmes who saw his team break out of a season-long scoring drought in a 6-3 non-conference win over Hastings.

The six goals exceeded by two the number of scores registered by Farmington (2-4) in its first five outings.

Holmes said his team’s best period was the first when it jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals from Jenna Gerold and Ellie Moser.

“We played a very solid first period,” he said. “We outshot them 12-1 and played very solidly in all zones.”

The second frame, however, didn’t go quite as smoothly. The Raiders got on the board seconds into the period and it took Lexi Budensiek’s score late in the second to preserve the two-goal advantage.

“We deflated some in the second period and it is definitely something we will have to work on as we have come out firing in the first period most games this year,” Holmes said. “Getting us to continue that pressure is vital to our success.”

Moser made it a three-goal game early in the third period with her second of the night but the visitors made it interesting down the stretch, scoring twice in the closing four-plus minutes.

Savanna Tucker made it 5-3 Tigers with an open-net score after Hastings pulled its goalie and Moser added a little icing on the victory cake with her third of the game in the closing seconds.

“It was definitely nice to see the scoreboard keep lighting up,” Holmes said, “but on the other hand, we were not as solid as we have been in the defensive zone. I have to believe that part of it was a mental lapse with our minds being set at some ease by playing with a lead.”

In addition to Moser’s hat trick (and an assist), linemate Emily Rubins had a productive night with three assists. Brenna Furhman and Megan Bernu also recorded assists for the winners.

Goaltender Abby Bollig chalked up her second win of the season with an 11-save effort. The Tigers outshot the Raiders by a count of 34-14.

The game’s outcome was diminished somewhat by an injury to first-line forward Marissa Agerter who left due to possible concussion symptoms and did not return after the period.

“Marissa is a big part of the offense,” Holmes said, “and if she did suffer a concussion we will most likely have to find a way to adapt for a week or two while she recovers.”

The Tigers get back to South Suburban Conference action next Tuesday when they travel to Shakopee in search of their first league win.