Tigers Fall to No. 6 Eden Prairie 5-4

By Pat Rupp

For the second time in four days the Tigers took on a state-rated team and for the second time they came up just short, this time in a 5-4 non-conference loss Tuesday night at sixth-rated Eden Prairie.

Farmington coach Jon Holmes wasn’t about to claim a moral victory in the one-goal loss to the Eagles but he offered that it was a step forward for his young team.

“We were right in it and had some great chances to tie it up late,” he said. “The one piece I am very proud about is that we stayed with them even though we didn’t have our best stuff. 

“We were tired, under the weather, and a bit beat up, but we still played back and forth with the best team we have seen all season. They (Eden Prairie) are mature, fast, and skilled, and are ranked that high with good reason.”

A slow start once again plagued the Tigers. The Eagles scored the only goal of the first period and then made it 2-0 early in the second.

Brenna Fuhrman (from Claire Enright) cut the lead in half later in the second but EP responded minutes later to make it 3-1.

Samantha Moehle brought the visiting crowd to its feet with a pair of late scores in the period, one from Enright and another from Enright and Carly Lancaster to tie it up at three apiece heading to the final break.

The Eagles scored twice to start the third period before Kelsie Vincent closed the night’s scoring with an unassisted goal with 4:49 left in regulation.

For the first time all season, the Tigers came out on the short end in the shots on goal department. EP won that battle by a convincing 29-16 count.

“Eden Prairie was faster, stronger and more skilled than anyone we have faced, “Holmes said, “so it was definitely a confidence booster for us to get out there and go blow for blow with them knowing we didn’t have our A game.”

Farmington goalie Ryleigh Furlong had a busy night in the nets, stopping 24 of 29 shots sent her way.

“In order to win these games by a goal rather than lose them by a goal we have to come out and play a first period much stronger than we have been,” Holmes said. “We also need to be sure that the defensive zones and the neutral zones are being attended to with the care they deserve. 

“In games where the teams are not as deep or the talent pool isn’t as full, we can get away with some mistakes in those areas. Playing teams like Eden Prairie and Eagan we have to pull in the reins and not allow those mind breaks to occur. Whoever capitalizes on those breaks generally ends up with the win.”

The loss dropped the Tigers to 4-4-1 on the season. They complete the first round of South Suburban Conference play Thursday night when they take on Eastview at the Apple Valley Ice Center.

Farmington hosts its annual Louie Schmitz Holiday Classic Tournament Dec 26-28 at Schmitz-Maki Arena.