Kelli Harstad in second half collision with Eagan keeper
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Four's a Crowd
Alyssa Parcoo (21) and Kelli Elmer (24) battle for a loose ball
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
If baseball is a game of inches then soccer must be one of centimeters.
Farmigton gave Eagan, the seventh-ranked Class AA team in Minnesota, all it wanted and then some in a 2-0 overtime loss Thursday, Septmeber 29, at windy Tiger Stadium.
Swirling northwest winds made controlling the ball a nightmare for both teams with the team heading to the south goal at a distinct advantage all night.
"We tried to play our usual game except for adding an extra defender when they (Eagan) had the wind," Tiger coach Rob Carpentier said.
The Tigers needed that extra defender in the first half when the ball stayed mostly in the their zone. Eagan put more than its share of shots on net but a hustling defense, led again by sophomore Izzie Ferm, and freshman keeper Ashley Becker were up to the task.
After a scoreless first half the Tigers had the wind at their backs and generated some offensive opportunities of their own.
The best chance came with ten minutes remaining in regulation when Ferm's header of Naomi Wood's corner kick was a centimeter too tall and bounced off the crossbar.
"We score there and it's a whole different ball game," Carpentier said.
The Tigers had two more corner kick chances before the end of regulation but a swarming Eagan defense stopped both.
Eagan's go-ahead goal came 32 seconds into the first of two overtime periods and ironically, against the wind. The Wildcats added another off a corner kick in the second extra session.
"We showed that we can play competitively at this level," Carpentier said. "We played a great game against a very good team, one that could win the state tournament. We were right there.
"What I especially liked is our girls were not happy with losing this game, even as well as they played. They wanted the win."
Ashley Becker 22 saves
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Although Becker eventually gave up the two Wildcat scores she played perhaps the best game of her young career, finishing with 22 saves, including a highlight-reel knock-away in the second overtime.
Farmington played most of the second half without the services of senior defender Ashley Kimmel who injured her Achilles tendon battling for a loose ball.
The Tigers close out their regular season with Missota Conference games against Chaska and New Prague next Tuesday and Thursday before opening Section 1AA play the following week.
"Eagan beat up on a couple of other teams in our section, so this could help in our seeding," Carpentier said.
