TIGERS NEARLY UPSET TOP-RATED BLAKE

The Farmington Tigers nearly pulled off the biggest upset in their history on Saturday afternoon at Schmitz-Maki Arena.  As cold as the weather was outside, the action was hot and heavy inside as the top-rated Blake Bears and the host team battled on even terms before Blake prevailed 4-2 on the strength of three third-period markers.

In a contest that featured great skill and tenacity, the partisan crowd was treated to one of the better games in the metro this winter.  However, the Tigers couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead entering the final stanza.  The talented Bears, #1 in Class 2A, showed their grit despite being whistled for eight minor penalties.  Sophomore forward Audrey Wethington took a pass from Sarah Chute and beat Farmington netminder Emily Auge to tie the score at 3:55 of the final period.

Midway through the third, the Bears got the go-ahead goal from leading scorer Izzy Daniel, as she took a pass from Kyra Willoughby on a 3-2 rush. It was Daniel’s 20th goal of the year.  Blake took a penalty with 3:40 remaining and the vaunted Tiger power-play had three premium chances to score, including a couple of scrums in front of the net but to no avail.  Madison Tix gave the Bears an insurance tally with 1:28 remaining with Wethington assisting.

“We played a really solid game against Blake,” stated head coach Jon Holmes.  “The biggest difference in a very evenly-played contest was that they capitalized on their odd-man rushes by finding the back of the net and we hit a couple of cross-bars and had some near misses that we didn’t finish off.  In the locker room after the game, it was obvious that this was a bitter loss that really bothered the team.  It was good to see because they knew they were right in the game and they gave themselves a chance to win.”

Blake improved their season log to 17-0-1, their only blemish a 1-1 tie at Wayzata on Nov. 30.  The Bears are riding a nine-game winning streak.  Blake, which won four of the last Class A girls’ hockey titles and seven overall, switched to Class 2A this season and is thriving despite the increased competition. The valiant Farmington club, ranked #16 in Class 2A, fell to 13-5 despite playing their best game of the year.  With a youthful roster, the Tiger program looks to be on the rise. They are a bonafide threat yet in 2018, no doubt.

FHS took a 2-1 lead after the first period, when they outshot Blake 9-7.  Junior forward Marissa Agerter opening the scoring for the home team exactly two minutes into the game when she scored on a rebound off a shot from 8th-grade linemate Claire Enright, beating senior goalie Anna Kruesel.  Blake sophomore Addie Burton tied it shortly thereafter when she deked Auge on a breakaway with CC Wallin assisting.  Farmington’s Ellie Moser, who tallied her 100th career goal in the previous game, put the Tigers ahead with her 21st goal of the season with 1:27 left.  Moser skated into the offensive zone and wristed a shot high into the net from the top of the circle.  The assist went to 8th-grade forward Carly Lancaster.  Both of Farmington’s goals were scored on the power-play as Blake took four minors in the frame.

“I thought we dominated the first period and had many of the better scoring chances,” said Holmes.  “Unfortunately, we allowed them a breakaway that they capitalized on. We outhustled them and got to all of the loose pucks and they started grabbing, clutching, and tripping.  They certainly have a ton of skill but I don’t think they were used to playing from behind.”

The middle stanza was scoreless but the visiting Bears had the better chances, despite only an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal.  Holmes remarked, “The play flip-flopped in the second period and Blake definitely had the better of the chances but we did a nice job in our defensive zone clearing the slot and keeping the play outside the dots.  However, we did not take advantage on our breakaways and odd-man rushes that may have given us an opportunity to be up by more going into the third.”

With Schmitz-Maki hosting a doubleheader and the boys’ teams playing after the girls, a large contingent was present for the pivotal final 17 minutes.  Both teams have been dominant in the third period in 2017-18.  Blake had outscored their opponents by 31-6, in fact. 

“The play was still pretty even in the final period and we had chances to increase our one-goal lead,” lamented Holmes.  “But Blake found some clear shooting lanes and they made some real good ‘snipes’.  They are a very talented team in regard to their stick skills and we knew we had to get our sticks on the puck and bodies in front of them because of their scoring prowess. For the most part, we did.”

Auge, who alternates with fellow senior Abby Bollig, finished with 25 saves for the Tigers while Kruesel had 24 in net for head coach Shawn Reid’s club.  Auge is now 7-3 as a starter with a 1.75 goals-against average.  Kruesel is 17-0 with a an 0.95 goals-against average for the Bears.

“All in all, there were some great take-a-ways from the game and it came at a good time because we are building more momentum for the playoffs,” summarized Holmes. “The best thing is that we know that we can play with any team in the state and we feel that we can beat any team, as well.”

The Lady Tigers return to South Suburban action when they host the Rosemount Irish at Schmitz-Maki Arena on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.  A four-game homestand continues with games against Apple Valley on Jan. 20 (3:30 p.m.) and Burnsville on Jan. 23 (7 p.m.)