Boys Hockey: On to the semifinals

Captain Kevin Olund scored the second Tiger goal (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Jack Erickson scored book end goals, his third and fourth in the past two games, as the Tigers advanced to the Section 1AA quarterfinals with a 5-2 win over Rochester John Marshall Thursday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

With the victory fourth-seeded Farmington (13-12-1) advances to Saturday's semifinals and a match-up with  top-seeded Lakeville North in Rochester. North (9-16-1) defeated Winona 2-0 Thursday night in its opening round game.

The Tigers jumped on the visiting Rockets early with Erickson netting a power play goal and Kevin Olund adding a second on a laser shot from the high slot for a 2-0 first period lead.

The fast-paced period featured plenty of offensive chances with the teams combining for 24 shots on goal. The Tigers outshot their guests 15-9 in the period.

"It was important for us to get off to a good start," Tiger coach Keith Revels. "We talked about getting the puck to the net and giving ourselves a chance to score."

Goal celebration with Tiger fans (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The second frame featured even more chances as the home team assaulted the JM net with 20 shots with two finding the mark. Joe Siebenaler made it 3-0 midway through the period and Grant Hauswirth made it a four-goal game at 14:09 of the second.

The four-goal advantage lasted all of 10 seconds as JM scored off the ensuing face-off, a goal Revels shouldn't have happened.

"We changed lines right after the goal with the order not to let up," he said, "and that was exactly what happened."

The Rockets scored again with just 12 seconds to play in the period and with 17 minutes to play things were beginning to get interesting.

"We had so many chances in the second period," Revels said, "but I also think when we got the big lead we got a little greedy and found ourselves out of position."

Gage Overby 23 saves (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The breakneck pace that characterized the first two periods slowed in the third, something Revels said was by design.

"Another goal would have been nice but not necessary," he said. "We wanted to focus on protecting our goal. I think the way we played in the third period shows how far this team has come from the start of the season."

The only goal in the final stanza came from Erickson who found an empty net after the Rockets pulled their goaltender with 2:45 to play.

Gage Overby worked the Farmington nets and recorded his sixth win of the season. The sophomore netminder finished with  23 saves.

Erickson added an assist to his two goals for a three-point night and Olund also had an assist for a second point. Justin Novak pitched in with two assists and Hauswirth and Erik Holmstrom each had one.

Revels said one of the keys to the playoff win was his team's ability to stay out of the penalty box. The Tigers had just two penalties in the contest and spent less than a minute playing shorthanded.

"When we stay out of the penalty box, good things happen for us," he said.

The puck drops Saturday at 11:30 a.m at the Rochester Recreation Center where Revels and his team will try to shake a four-year Lakeville jinx.

In Revels' four previous seasons with the boys' program either North (3) or South (1) has knocked the Tigers out of the section tourney.

Grant Hauswirth tries to stuff the puck by JM goalie (photo by Jim Lindquist)