The Faribault Falcons girls hockey team appeared a step slow in their 2-1 loss to the Owatonna Huskies in Owatonna tonight.  Take nothing away from the Huskies.  They hustled after more loose pucks and earned the victory.  The loss ends any chance of Faribault winning the Big 9 title.  In fact I believe the Northfield Raiders have clinched the Big 9.  Going into the game Faribault trailed Northfield by 10 points even though both teams had 11 wins in the league.

To emphasize the craziness of this points system the league coaches have agreed to the Huskies are now 1 point behind Faribault and have won three fewer games and have two ties.  Owatonna plays a total of 15 Big 9 games, Faribault plays 18 and Northfield 13 Big 9 Conference games.  At least come up with a system where you play the same number of conference games.

Northfield has two conference games left and Faribault has three conference games left.  If they both win their remaining games the Falcons will have 14 wins and the Raiders 13 wins in the league and the Raiders will win with 40 points and Faribault will have 32.  Northfield will be unbeaten in the league if they win out, but my point is they don't have to win as many games to win the title.  That makes no sense does it?

Owatonna junior goalie Asia Buryska picked up her 8th win of the season and had 29 saves in the game.  Faribault outshot Owatonna 30 to 27.  The two goals scored by Owatonna both came in the second period. The first came 5:26 into the second period by eighth grader Ezra Oien (11), assisted by senior Maylynn Prokopec (5).  A few minutes later (8:50) freshman Olivia Herzog (7) connected on a breakaway assisted by senior Kiley Friedrichs (7).

Faribault scored 10:35 of the third period when junior Tegan Herrley (3) scored on an assist by junior Serenity Knott (4).  The Falcons had their chances to tie the game but Buryska stopped some point blank shots.

Neither team could get their power play going.  Owatonna was 0 for 6 and Faribault 0 for 3.  Going into the game Faribault had 10 power play goals and 8 shorthanded goals.  The Falcons power play was at 20 percent.

Owatonna's power play was 22.5 percent with 9 power play and 2 shorthanded goals going into tonight's game.

Faribault hosts Rochester Lourdes Tuesday in a game that will determine the top seed in the upcoming Section Tournament.  It is the first game of a varsity doubleheader with the boys.  Coverage on KDHL will be 4:45 p.m. for the girls game.  The Falcon boys will play Dodge County in the Faribault Ice Arena also and that game will follow the girls on KDHL, 920 AM.  The best way to listen static-free is to download the FREE KDHL app.

Other Hockey Day Minnesota girls hockey scores from area Saturday:

  • South St. Paul 4  Rochester Lourdes 3
  • Minnehaha United 7  Rochester Century 4
  • Red Wing 4  Rochester Mayo 3
  • Dodge County 2  Duluth Marshall 1
  • Lakeville South 3  Shakopee 2
  • Prior Lake 4  Lakeville North 3 (OT)
  • Rosemount 3  Eastview 2  (OT)
  • Farmington 1  Apple Valley 1  (OT)
  • Burnsville 4  Eagan 1
  • Minnesota RIver 3  Worthington 2

Hockey Day Minnesota boys high school hockey scores from area:

  • Owatonna 5  Faribault 0
  • Northfield 5  St. Paul Johnson 2
  • Red Wing 5  Rochester Mayo 4
  • Austin 5  Winona 2
  • Rochester Lourdes 5  Bloomington Kennedy 1
  • Eagan 6  Burnsville 4
  • Rosemount 3 Eastview 2
  • Lakeville South 3  Shakopee 1
  • Farmington 4  Apple Valley 4 (OT)
  • Waseca 5  Luverne 1
Abigail Goodwin for Faribault at Open Net in Owatonna. Photo provided by Todd Rost
Abigail Goodwin for Faribault at Open Net in Owatonna. Photo provided by Todd Rost
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Tegan Herrley (#20) Congratulated on Her Goal Against Owatonna. Photo by Todd Rost
Tegan Herrley (#20) Congratulated on Her Goal Against Owatonna. Photo by Todd Rost
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