Boys Hockey: Spartans tame Tigers 4-3

Alex Aubrecht scored first period goal (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Rochester Mayo edged the Tigers 4-3 in a match-up of Section 1AA rivals Saturday afternoon at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

The loss dropped Farmington back to .500 at 4-4 and marked the first loss in four games against section competition for coach Keith Revels' team. With the  win, Mayo upped its season record to 5-1.

"I'd put Mayo right up near the top of the big Nine Conference," Revels said. "It would have been nice to have a clean sweep of the section games, but 3-1 is pretty solid."

Defenseman Alex Aubrecht (from Corey Rudrud and Tanner Grubb) got the Tigers off to to a good start with the game's only goal of a tightly contested opening period.

Mayo drew first blood in the second period but Grant Hauswirth put the Tigers back on top with an end-to-end rush off a rare assist by goalie Austin Krause.

Austin Krause 21 saves, assist (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The visitors scored twice in the first six minutes of the third  period but once again Farmington countered, this time on Benton Olson's first career varsity goal. Chris Fitzgibbon recorded an assist on the score.

Max Whitney's goal just eight seconds later proved to be  the game-winner.

"Giving up three goals in third period really hurts," Revels said, "especially at home."

Krause went the distance in the nets for the Tigers, finishing the afternoon with 21 saves. Mayo won the shots on goal battle by a 25-22 margin.

The Tigers have just one more game on the schedule before Christmas, next Friday's Missota Conference opener with New Prague at Schmitz-Maki Arena.