Tiger Rally Falls Just Short Against Eagan

By Pat Rupp

Farmington spotted South Suburban Conference leader Eagan an early three goals and could never quite claw all the way back in a frustrating 3-2 loss Saturday at Schmitz-Maki Arena..

The Wildcats took advantage of three Farmington penalties to score two power play goals in the opening period. In the end, they decided the outcome.

“The first period was a killer,” Tiger coach Jon Holmes said. “We were trying to be aggressive but we definitely were overdoing it and our sticks were getting high and in positions where officials had to make calls…Spending half the period in the box and defending a 5-3 against the conference champs is not a good strategy to win a hockey game.”

Eagan took a three-goal lead less than three minutes into the second period before Farmington got on the board on Grace Auge’s second goal in the past two games. The score came at 5:05 of the second on nice tip from a point shot taken by Cassie Knutson.

Fifteen seconds later Sam Moehle narrowed the gap on her sixth goal of the season on assists from Claire Enright and Carly Lancaster to set up an exciting finish.

Farmington got the better of the play in the final frame, outshooting the Wildcats 11-6 but could not push the puck by Eagan goaltender Maddie Nickell.

“After some very gentle reminders of how we needed to focus and be more mentally ready, we came back out and won the final two periods,” Holmes said. “We had lots of flurries and really controlled a good portion of the play. 

“We still allowed some odd-man breaks we need to tighten up, but we had a lot of close calls on pucks literally skirting the goal line. Throw in three posts and a crossbar and we were right there in a position to win.”

For the eighth straight game the Tigers outshot the opposition, this time by a 32-27 count. Farmington netminder Ryleigh Furlong finished the contest with 24 saves.

The loss left the Tigers with a season mark of 4-3-1, overall and in league play. They close out the first round of conference action next Thursday at Eastview. Prior to that they travel to Eden Prairie on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt.

“Our players have done a nice job of growing into roles they didn’t expect to have at the conclusion of last season,” Holmes said. 

“Our upside is tremendous and the downside is certainly getting tightened up. We always talk about getting an inch better every day and those inches are starting to add up.”