Burnsville Blanks Tigers 3-0

by Pat Rupp

Goalie Riley Pester and a stout Burnsville defense combined to give the Blaze a 3-0 shutout win over the Tigers in a South Suburban Conference game played Thursday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

The loss dropped Farmington to 2-2 overall as well as in conference play. Oddly, the Tigers are winless in two starts at Schmitz-Maki and a perfect 2-0 in road contests.

Pester, who has allowed but two goals in six outings for a microscopic 0.33 goals against average, turned away 38 Farmington shots (to 30 for the Blaze) to post her fourth shutout of the season. Burnsville’s only loss in the early going has been a 1-0 verdict to Shakopee.

“Their goalie is very good and they do a good job of clearing rebounds,” Farmington coach Jon Holmes said. “We certainly had our chances but watching the tape it looked like we were trying to hit the goalie and create rebounds instead of trying to score.

“We knew going in what kind of game it was going to be. They are mature and play very aggressively. Because we are so young we will have ups and downs…It is good to see our chances still outnumber those of our opponents.  They will eventually turn into goals as we learn how to better capitalize on our opportunities.”

The winners scored a goal in each period with Aubrey Nelvin accounting for the first two, one even strength and one shorthanded.

In addition to their 38 shots on goal the Tigers were presented with five power play opportunities but came up empty on each.

“At times our power play looked really good and other times it was borderline atrocious,” Holmes said. “We just need more time to develop.”

Ryleigh Furlong started her fourth straight game between the pipes for the Tigers and finished with a season-high 27-saves.

“Our biggest need right now is to transition more quickly and with more purpose,” Holmes said. “Each season there is inevitably time needed to stress the importance of defensive zone after months of playing elite leagues and AAA Hockey where the focus is put on individual play and offense… Couple that with being so young, we just need to form better habits and that takes repetition and time.”

The Tigers have a full week to prepare for next Thursday’s home game with Apple Valley. Two days later they head to Hasse Arena in Lakeville to take on Lakeville South.