Tigers Overcome Penalties, Beat Huskies in Overtime
Owatonna dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Farmington in the opening round of the 16th annual Louis Schmitz Holiday Classic Thursday in Farmington. The Tigers battled through three penalties in the extra session and scored the winner shortly after coming back to full strength.
The Huskies had a full minute of 5-on-3 in overtime and had several close chances that nearly gave them the victory. The Tigers also had to kill a major penalty early in the second period on a play that knocked the Huskies' leading scorer Ezra Oien from the game with a lower body injury. A portion of the major penalty was nullified by an OHS two-minute infraction.
Owatonna had a strong start to the game, out-shooting the Tigers early. Sydney Hunst hit the pipe on a shot about midway through the first period. Farmington built momentum as the period wore on. The Huskies Asia Buryska made a fabulous kick save with two-and-a-half minutes left in the opening frame, which was a sign of things to come.
The Tigers were credited with 35 shots on goal, and it felt like more than that. Farmington broke through five minutes into the second stanza on a power play goal by Sadie Long with an assists from Carly Lancaster and Jayden Seifert.
Late in the second period, OHS tied the game on Sarah Snitker's first varsity goal, stuffing home the rebound of a shot by Olivia Herzog. Grace Wolfe also assisted. The goal came shortly after the five-minute major penalty ended on the Tigers. Farmington had 15 minutes of penalties in total.
The winner for the Tigers came from Lancaster with an assist from Izzy Zwart less than a minute after the third penalty of the overtime ended for Farmington.
The loss is also a blow for Owatonna in the section standings. OHS has also lost to 1AA opponents Lakeville South, Dodge County, and Northfield. The Huskies get another opportunity against the Raiders late in the season.
Owatonna will play the middle game of the round-robin tournament Friday, December 27 at 11 am against New Prague at Schmitz-Maki Arena in Farmington.