Girls Lacrosse: A couple of heart-breakers

Rachael Welzin 4 goals, assists in two games (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The weather was a lot better than at the opening game of the season but the results were similar as the Tigers dropped a pair of squeakers to Rochester Century and Burnsville this weekend.

Friday night Century netted two goals in overtime to pull out a 7-5 win at Tiger Stadium and less than 24 hours later the Blaze eked out a 10-9 victory in Burnsville to keep the Tigers winless in three starts this season.

"It is early in the season and we haven’t gotten to work full field much, so it is tough to get out there and have too high of expectations," coach Dan Pickens said.  "We are still gelling as a team and need to find the right combination of players and work all of the field."

Century led 4-3 at the halftime break on Friday and eventually won it by scoring twice in the first of two three-minute overtime sessions.

"We could never quite get started in the overtime," Pickens said. "We have got to play better than that."

Shelby Klotz scored two of the five Farmington goals with Rachael Welzin, Becky Genzler and Ashley Steffes also finding the mark for the Tigers. Steffes'' goal was the first of her varsity career.

Welzin, Michaela Tonasger and Jessica Herrera each had assists for Farmington. Tiger goalie Maddie Kohkbeck finished with 12 saves.

Ashley Steffes first 3 varsity goals (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Burnsville game was close throughout with the Blaze leading 5-4 at the halftime break before stretching the advantage to 9-6 with 8:30 remaining in regulation.

At that point Pickens called a timeout to plot a comeback strategy.


"We talked about our ability to comeback and how important it was to support each other and have a winning attitude," he said.

The pep talk paid dividends as the Tigers roared back with three unanswered scores to tie the count with 1:21 remaining. But the Blaze had enough heat for one last  goal, netting the game-winner with 21 seconds to play.

"It was a tough one for our girls to swallow because they battled so hard against a good team," Pickens said.

Klotz and Welzin each recorded a hat trick in the losing effort and Steffes ran her her week's total to three with two more scores. Kaeli Halverson netted the other Farmington goal. Kylee Glen had two assists and Tonsager one.

Kohlbeck faced 22 shots and finished with 10 saves for a two-game total of 22.

The Tigers return to action Tuesday night with a home game against Holy Angels.

For more of Jim Lindquist's photos from the Century game visit https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.496503133731802.1073741829.134625986586187&type=1

Baseball: Wingers sweep Tigers 14-6, 7-2

Spencer Merle, 2 doubles, 2 runs in the opener (photo by Jim Lindquist)

In keeping with what has been a bizarre spring sports season, the Tigers opened their 2013 outdoor campaign Friday with a "home" doubleheader loss to Red Wing at, where else, Rochester Mayo.

The twin bill was scheduled for Tiger Field but the home turf was still too wet to allow play so the teams met in Rochester to kick off the Missota Conference season. The Wingers won the opener 14-6 and the nightcap 7-2.

" For the most part we were competitive with Red Wing who was ranked in the top 10 in the pre-season poll," Farmington coach Mike Winters said. "We had a four-run lead in the first game through the fifth inning and we jumped out to a two-run lead in game two.

"Offensively we did a good job of putting the ball in play and working the count in our favor...On the hill, we need to continue to find guys who want to take the ball and compete and hopefully someone who can come in and shut the door on a lead."

The Tigers built a 6-2 lead lead in the first game with Kevin Olund knocking in a pair of runs and Bobby Eckert, Johnny Dittman and Kyle Mayer one apiece before the bottom fell out.

Red Wing took the lead with an eight-run sixth inning and then added a little insurance with four more scores in the top of the seventh.

JD Hinks pitched the first five and two-thirds innings and gave up the first five runs on seven hits. He struck out seven batters and did not issue a walk. The bullpen trio of Olund, Jordan Beschorner and Austin Martinsen got roughed up for seven runs on nine hits the rest of the way.

Farmington hurt itself with four errors which led to four unearned runs.

"We need to find a way to keep our focus through the long innings, because we will have those in this doubleheader set-up," Winters said.

Spencer Merle accounted for two of the six Farmington hits, both doubles, and scored a pair of runs. Nick Schoening also scored twice for Farmington.

The Tigers started out on the right foot in the second game, grabbing a 1-0 lead on a first-inning double by Dittman and a run-scoring single by Merle.

The lead jumped to 2-1 in the third inning on a triple by Jordan Lugowski and a Red Wing error but from then on, it was all Wingers.

The state's eighth-rated Class 2A team  countered with a four-run third inning and then added solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings to close out the win.

Parker Holmstrom started on the hill for the Tigers, giving up the first five Red Wing runs and absorbing the loss. Jared Lipinski surrendered the final two runs in 3.3 innings of relief. Kyle Johnson came on to record the final out of the sixth inning.

The Tigers collected seven hits in the contest, including a pair of singles by Bobby Eckert.

Tuesday the Tigers continue their string of Missota Conference doubleheaders with a pair of games at New Prague. First pitch is scheduled for 3:15.

Boys Tennis: Tigers fall prey to Wolfpack

Jon Zakoski made his season debut at No. 4 singles, losing 4-6, 6-2, (7-10)

For the third time in as many days the Tigers came out on the wrong end of a 7-0 score, this one a non-conference road match Friday at Park of Cottage Grove.

"The result is becoming a broken record, but I thought we played well," coach Jack Olwell said, "and so did most of our players."

Most of the matches were indeed competitive but winning remained an elusive proposition.

At the top of the singles lineup, Bennett  Lagro lost 2-6 2-6 at No. 1 and Jake Bauer fell 4-6, 4-6 at No. 2.

"Jake served at 4-5 in each set so he was in the hunt the entire match," Olwell said. "Both players showed solid defense."

Ivan Rodriguez dropped a 2-6 0-6 verdict at the third spot and Jon Zakoski made his singles debut with a 4-6, 6-2 (7-10) loss at the fourth position.

"Jon played a solid match getting better throughout the course of play in what was a defensive chess game," Olwell said.

Trent Kortenbusch and Austin Tremmel paired up at the No. 1 doubles slot and lost 2-6, 3-6 while the No. 2 team of Austin Rau and Grady Hauswirth finished on the short end of a 2-6, 2-6 score.

" Grady was all over the place," Olwell said. "He had some brilliant shots...This was a fun match."

Drew Corraro and Jake Spindler fell 3-6, 3-6 in another competitive match at third doubles.

The loss left the Tigers with an overall season mark of 1-3; 0-1 in Missota Conference play.

Softball: Tigers consolation champs at Mankato

Ashley Betzold win, save at Mankato (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers finally got to take their 2013 show into the elements over the weekend, winning two of three games while claiming the consolation championship at the the eight-team Mankato East Invitational tournament played Friday and Saturday at Caswell Park in Mankato.

Coach Paul Harrington's defending Missota Conference and Section 1AAA champions might have fared even better had they not squandered a 4-0 lead in an opening round 6-4 loss to defending state Class 2A champion New Ulm.

Farmington came back to down Winona Cotter 5-3 in the consolation semifinals and then battered Tartan 9-1 to take home the consolation championship hardware.

Harrington said his team's first outdoor appearance of the belated spring had its high points, including out-hitting all three opponents and consistently getting runners on base.

"But we left 25 runners on in the three games and that's too many," he said. "Thirteen of them were in scoring position. We need more timely hitting.

"Defense was also a problem. We gave up 10 runs in the three games and only two of them were earned. Too many errors."

The defense knocked the Tigers out of the tournament opener. Leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Harrington said his team experienced a "defensive letdown" that cost it the game.

"New Ulm hadn't threatened in the game until then," he said.

The defending state champs turned the Farmington fielding miscues into six unearned runs and pushed the Tigers into the consolation bracket.

Amber Doyle rapped a pair of hits, including a triple, and knocked in a pair of runs and Ashley Betzold went 2-3 to lead the Farmington offense. Kendall Novak scored twice.

Betzold went the distance in the circle, scattering four hits and striking out six batters.

Amber Doyle 2-3, 3B, 2RBI vs. New Ulm (photo by Jim Lindquist)

In the second round victory over Cotter, Maddie Muelken picked up the win in her first varsity start, allowing just three hits in five innings. Betzold pitched the final two frames and struck out four to record the save.

Muelken also led the Tigers at the plate, stroking a pair of doubles in three plate appearances.

Betzold was back in the circle for the fifth place game and allowed seven hits while striking out four and giving up just one run.

Toni Hunsinger and Molly Berdan each rapped a pair of hits and scored a run for the winners. Taylor Yousse scored twice, once on a suicide squeeze bunt by Doyle.

Betzold and Muelken were selected to the all-tournament team.

Tuesday the Tigers open the shortened Missota Conference season with a home doubleheader with New Prague. The first game is scheduled for 3:15 at Tiger Field.




 

Tigers fare well at Hamline Elite

Tanner Grubb anchored second place  4x400 relay

The Tigers scored points in six events at the Hamline Elite meet held Friday night at Hamline University in St. Paul.

The highest finish of the night came on the boys' side ledger where the quartet of Tyler Lerbakken, Tommy Weigel, Justin Hyytinen and Tanner Grubb that was runner-up in the 4x400 relay in a school record time of 3:25.17.

Hyytinen added an eighth place finish in the 1600-meter run, clocking a personal-best 4:26.56.

Nadia Lorencz placed in two events for the Tiger girls, ranking third in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.5 and fourth in the long jump with a leap of 16-9.25. Lorencz also took ninth place in the triple jump with a 33-8.5 effort.

The 4x200 relay team of Isabelle Ferm, Maria Kiminski, Morgan Cecchettini and Megan Graham placed fifth in 1:47.45 and the 4x400 quartet of Alicia Hett, Jennifer Miller, Graham and Kiminski who clocked 4:06.87.

Tiger Scoreboard: April 28, 2013

Softball
Mankato East Tournament
Consolation Championship
Farmington 9 Tartan 1

Burnsville 10 Farmington 9

Girls Track: Resting Tigers place second

(photo by Jim Lindquist)

Even with several big-time scorers sitting out in preparation for Friday night's Hamline Elite meet in St. Paul, the Tigers rolled up 124.5 points and finished second in a quadrangular meet Thursday afternoon in Red Wing.

New Prague won the meet with 155 points, followed by Farmington, Red Wing 85 and Plum City, Wisconsin, 24.

Nadia Lorencz, Isabelle Ferm, Megan Graham and Alicia Hett all saw limited duty in order to be well-rested for Friday's competition against the state's best.

Lorencz will perform in three individual events, the 100-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump, and Ferm is entered in the 400-meter run at Hamline. The 4x200 and 4x400 meter relay teams will also run.

The Tigers won four events at Red Wing, including Emma Record, 100-meter dash; Maria Kiminski, 300-meter hurdles; Destiny Schmitz, high jump and the 4x200 meter relay team of Ferm, Graham, Hett and Cecchettini.

Lorenz took second in her only event of the day, the pole vault and Aly Grebner placed runner-up in the shot put. The 4x800 relay team of Nicole Willis, Sammi Hyytinen, Alex Frost and Alicia Hett.
also ranked second.

Seven other Farmington entries scored third place points, including Hett in the 200-meter dash; Schmitz in the triple jump; Grebner in the high jump; Hyytinen in the 800-meter run; Alex Frost in the 1600-meter run; Maricella Pacheco in the 3200-meter run.and Elizabeth Welter in the long jump.

Tiger Scoreboard; April 27, 2013

Baseball
Red Wing 14 Farmington 6
Red Wing 7 Farmington 2

Softball
Mankato East Tournament
New Ulm 6 Farmington 4
Farmington 5 Winona Cotter 3

Girls Lacrosse
Rochester Century 7 Farmington 5 (OT)

Boys Track
Hamline Elite Meet
1600-meter run: 8th Justin Hyytinen
4x400 meter relay: Tyler Lerbakken, Tommy Weigel, Justin Hyytinen and Tanner Grubb

Girls Track
Hamline Elite Meet
100-meter hurdles: 3. Nadia Lorencz
Long Jump: 4. Lorencz
4x200 meter relay: 5. Megan Graham, Morgan Cecchittini, Jennifer Miller and Isabelle Ferm
4x400 meter relay: 5. Alicia Hett, Jennifer Miller, Maria Kiminski and Graham

Boys Tennis
Farmington at Park Of Cottage Grove

Boys Track: Tigers roll at Red Wing

Justin Hyytinen won 1600 and 3200-meter runs (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington took advantage of the improved weather conditions to pile up 192 points on the way to a convincing win in a four-team meet held Thursday in Red Wing.

The Tigers dominated the quadrangular with New Prague a distant second with 113, followed by Red Wing 80 and Plum, City Wisconsin 53.5.

The meet featured 17 events and the Tigers finished first in 11 of them, eight individual and three relays.

Sophomore distance ace Justin Hyytinen led the way with a pair of wins in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs.

Other Farmington individual runners included Tanner Grubb, 200-meter dash; Tyler Lerbakken, 400-meter dash; Jared Wolt, 800-meter run; Dan Berg, 110-meter hurdles; Nehemiah Rockett, 300-meter hurdles and CJ Wynings, discus.

Tyler Lerbakken 400-meter champ (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Mason Auge, Ryan Parco, Tommy Weigel and Grubb combined forces to win the 4x200 relay and the quartet of Adam Dougherty, Eric Stoeckman, Devon Webb and Wolt won the 4x400 relay. Lerbakken, Stoeckman, Dougherty and Wolt prevailed in the 4x800 relay.

Eight other Tigers scored second place points: Mason Gaylord, triple jump; Mike Husnik, shot put; Auge, 100-meter dash; Weigel, 200-meter dash; Webb, 800-meter run; Rockett, 110-meter hurdles; Berg, high jump and Conner Phu, pole vault.

Alex Chadwick placed third in the 100-meter dash as did Tanner Thode in the shot put; Adam Wallenta in the 1600-meter run and Parco in the 200-meter dash.

"We have sneaked into some outdoor meets and that has been extremely beneficial as our competitors yesterday had only one meet prior to yesterday,"Tiger coach Brain Helmstetter said.  

"We haven’t had much chance to work on blocks or hand-offs and that showed yesterday, but it also is on obvious place we can improve. The boys were competitive and it was impressive loading four buses to go to a meet.  We gave the throwers their own bus."

The Tigers will have two entrants in the Hamline Elite meet Friday night in St Paul: Hyytinen in the 1600-meter run and the 4x400 meter relay team of Lerbakken, Hyytinen, Weigel and Grubb.

Next up on the regular season schedule are the Missota  Conference Relays next Tuesday in Chaska.

 

Boys Lacrosse: In the win column

Dan Block moves the ball up the field (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The weather took a turn for the better and along with it came a turnaround in fortune for the Tigers.

After dropping a pair of one-goal games to Lakeville South and Rochester Century to start the season, coach Paul Sorensen's squad rolled over Spring Lake Park 13-4 Thursday night at Tiger Stadium.

The teams played to a 2-2 draw for the first 12 minutes but the Tigers erupted for three unanswered scores in the second period and then dominated play in the second half. The winners outscored the Panthers 8-2 over the final two frames.

Corey Rudrud and Brendan Berg combined for eight goals and three assists to spearhead a Farmington offense that had its best game of the young season.  Rudrud recorded five goals and an assist while Berg scored three goals and assisted on two more.

The Tigers outshot their guest by a lopsided 36-13 margin in the contest.

Jake Bauman netted a pair of goals and Kevin Clifton, Dan Block and Alex Schrafft also scored for the home team. Michael Thompson, Ryan Cole, and Garrett Gunderson each had an assist for the winners.

Kyle Kratz made his varsity debut in goal, picking up the victory while recording nine saves. With the help of a stingy defense, Kratz and Matt Heinzerling have given up just 16 goals in three games for a goals against average of 5.33.

Next up for the Tigers is a road match-up with Holy Angels next Tuesday at McMurray Fields in St. Paul.

Brendan Berg 3 goals 2 assists (photo by Jim Lindquist)

To view more of Jim Lindquist's photos from the game visit https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.495978567117592.1073741828.134625986586187&type=1

Tiger Scoreboard: April 26, 2013

Boys Tennis
Northfield 7 Farmington 0

Boys Lacrosse
Farmington 13 Spring Lake Park 4

Girls Track
Red Wing Quadrangular
New Prague 155, Farmington 124.5, Red Wing 80, Plum City (Wisconsin) 53.5

Boys Track
Red Wing Quadrangular
Farmington 192, New Prague 113,  Red Wing 85, Plum City (Wisconsin) 24

Boys Tennis: Tigers lose Missota opener

Ivan Rodriguez lost 2-6, 2-6 at third singles

Northfield put a damper on the Tigers' Missota Conference opener with a dominant 7-0 win Thursday afternoon at the Boeckman Middle School courts.

"I think we are gaining ground but it was hard to tell by the score alone," Tiger coach Jack Olwell said. "In some cases the score tells an accurate version but in others it fails to describe the competitive nature of play."

Bennett Lagro and Grady Hauswirth suffered 0-6, 0-6 losses at first and fourth singles while Jake Bauer and Ivan Rodriguez fell by identical 2-6, 2-6 scores.

None of the Tigers doubles teams had much luck. John Zakoski and Trent Kortenbusch lost 1-6, 0-6 at the No. 1 slot and Austin Tremmel and Austin Rau came out on the short end of a 1-6, 1-6 count at the second. The No. 3 duo of Drew Corraro and Jake Spindler suffered a 0-6, 0-6 setback.

The loss left the Tigers with an overall record of 1-2 heading into Friday's road dual meet at Park of Cottage Grove.

Boys Tennis: Role reversal

Coach Jack Olwell talks strategy before the Simley match

In their first match of the season the young Tigers rolled to a 7-0 win over Bloomington Kennedy.

In Wednesday night's second outing of the 2013 campaign the shoe was on the other foot in a 7-0 loss to Simley at the Boeckman Middle School courts.

"It doesn't sound all that close, but we hung with them for awhile," Tiger coach Jack Olwell said. "In the end they were the stronger team. I was very pleased with our ball striking today even though it wasn't quite enough.

"Our singles play showed our youth. We hit as well as our opponents but lacked the match experience to close the deal. That will come."

Ninth grader Bennett Lagro and seventh grader Jake Bauer lost by identical 3-6, 0-6 scores at first and second singles and junior Ivan Rodriguez dropped a 5-7, 1-6 verdict at the third slot.

No.  4 singles player Grady Hauswirth

Freshman Grady Hauswirth put up the best challenge on the singles ladder, losing 4-6. 2-6.

"Grady had the lead in both sets early but lost a couple long games that tipped the scales,' Olwell said. "I think if he played this player at the end of the season Grady would prevail. He is a great mover and very intense which at times is a two-edged sword."

The No. 2 doubles team of junior Austin Tremmel and senior Austin Rau led the Tiger doubles lineup with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-10 marathon loss that was decided by a super tie-breaker.

"The Austins had to dig their way out of a hole again, which they almost did," Olwell said.

The first doubles team of juniors Jon Zakoski and Trent Kortenbusch fell 0-6. 1-6 and the third pairing of senior Drew Carraro and junior Jake Spindler lost 2-6, 3-6.

The Tigers get back to their now compact tomorrow (Thursday) when they entertain Northfield in their Missota Conference opener. Friday they travel to Park of Cottage Grove for a non-conference match..

Boys Lacrosse: A repeat performance

Corey Rudrud 3 goals (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers must feel a little like the Bill Murray character in the movie "Groundhog Day".  Each game seems to be a carbon copy of the last.

For the second time in as many outings this spring, Farmington fell a goal short in a 7-6 loss, the latest coming Tuesday afternoon to Rochester Century at the Rochester Regional Sports Center.

In the season-opening loss to Lakeville South, the Cougars scored the game-winner in the final minute of regulation. In the loss to the Panthers, Century outscored its guests 3-1 in the final period to pick up the win.

As in the Lakeville South game, penalties played a mjor role in the contest.

"They had nine more man-up opportunities last night on which they netted four goals," coach Paul Sorensen said. 

"Needless to say tight games like the ones we have had the first two are made, or in our case, broken in that area.

"We physically are able, but mentally have had breakdowns that cost us. Easily, we could be 2-0 but until we shore up these mistakes, the trend will continue."

Corey Rudrud led the Farmington offense with a trio of goals. Brendan Berg, Kevin Clifton and Garrett Gunderson also scored for the visitors. Mitch Hilton recorded the only assist

Matt Heinzerling turned in a second straight strong performance in goal, stopping 11 of 18 shots in the losing effort. The Panthers outshot the Tigers by an 18-15 count.

"He (Heinzerling) saved everything in sight," Sorensen said. "He was outstanding."

The Tigers jump back into action Thursday night with a home contest against Spring Lake Park. Game time is 6:30 at Tiger Stadium.

Wrestling: An early Christmas present

State Champion Taylor Venz (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington wrestling fans might do themselves a favor by circling the entire month of December on their 2013 calendars.

Tiger coach Chad Olson recently received notification his up-and-coming team has been invited to compete in the prestigious Minnesota Christmas Tournament scheduled for December 20-21 at the Rochester Community and Technical College Fieldhouse in Rochester.

"This is a 36-team tournament and it is by invitation only," Olson said. "There are teams from Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin in the field. Last year 22 of the 36 teams were ranked in their state.

"We are trying to build our schedule so we wrestle against the top competition and this is a huge step for our program."

The talent-laden Rochester meet is not the only notable tournament on the December schedule, however.

December 6 the Tigers host state-power Hastings in a dual meet before heading to Prior Lake the following weekend for the Prior Lake Duals where three top-five Minnesota team are entered. They close out the month by traveling to Fargo, North Dakota, to compete in the multi-state Rumble on the Red.

"Our wrestlers are really excited about the schedule and are looking forward to the challenge," Olson said.

Tiger Scoreboard: April 24, 2013

Boys Lacrosse
Rochester Century 7 Farmington 6

Tiger Scoreboard: April 23, 2013

Girls Lacrosse
Prior Lake 10 Farmington 5

Girls Lacrosse: Tigers lose 10-5 in Snow Bowl

Lindsay Benson (No. 7) scored one of the Tiger goals (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The starting time for Monday's game with Prior Lake at Tiger Stadium was pushed up to 4:00 in hopes it could be completed before the ever-present April winter weather re-arrived. It didn't quite make it.

The Lakers outscored the home team 6-2 in the second half to post a snowy 10-5 win in the first game of the weather-delayed 2013 season for the Tigers.

"I guess the 'tsnownami' got the best of us tonight," coach Dan Pickens said. "I really wasn’t expecting the weather to get that bad.It was pretty nasty out there. 

"A game like this comes down to the fundamentals--ground balls, draws, reducing turnovers, playing solid defensively--and we lost most of those battles."

Prior Lake led by a goal at 4-3 at intermission before pulling away as the snowfall began to increase.

Lacrosse or Snowball Fight? (photo by Jim Lindquist)

"Playing and coaching in conditions like that certainly adds a new dimension," Pickens said. "It almost becomes a mental battle with yourself.  

"As a player you need to be aware of what your body can handle while at the same time not letting the conditions affect your play...Coaching when it is like that is very difficult because the time you usually would do the coaching is halftime, and we wanted to give the girls a break to warm-up. "

Pickens got a big night from sophomore attacker Shelby Klotz who scored three of the five Farmington goals. Rachael Welzin and Lindsay Benson accounted for the other Tiger scores. 

Maddie Kohlbeck had an active night in net in the losing effort, facing 22 shots and recording a dozen saves. 

Pickens said the snow-pening game experience was a unique one but like other Minnesotans, he is ready for winter to take a hike.

"It was unique and a memory, but I welcome the nicer weather coming," he said.

To see more of Jim Lindquist's photos from Monday night's game visit https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.494752037240245.1073741826.134625986586187&type=1&l=7141adebe5





 

Boys Lacrosse: Late goal spoils comeback

Brendan Berg 2 goals in season opener (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers staged a furious comeback to tie the game in the final four minutes but Lakeville South scored the game-winner late in a tough 7-6 loss Wednesday night at soggy Tiger Stadium.

The game was the first for both teams in the weather-delayed start to the 2013 season.

"The game was as ugly as the weather," Farmington coach Paul Sorensen said. "There were 22 penalties called and a lot of stoppages of play. A lot of that can be attributed to the weather and the lack of outdoor playing time this season."

South led 5-4 at the halftime break and 6-4 as the clock wound down in the closing minutes before Michael Thompson and Chris Fitzgibbons found the net to tie the score.

Brendan Berg paced the Farmington offense with a pair of goals. Corey Rudrud, Jake Bauman, Thompson and Fitzgibbons tallied the other Tiger scores. Kevin Clifton and Dan Block each had assists.

Matt Heinzerling worked the Farmington nets, turning back nine of 16 shots in his varsity debut.

"We have a veteran group so I was hoping that we would come a bit more prepared than we did," Sorensen said.

"Overall I thought our defense played well and we had spurts on offense. Lots to work on as we head into our next game."

Next up on the schedule is a Friday night match-up with St. Cloud Tech at Tiger Stadium.

Tiger Scoreboard: April 18, 2013

Boys Lacrosse
Lakeville South 7 Farmington 6

Girls Track: Tigers 4th at Irish Invite

Nadia Lorencz 3 second place finishes

Tuesday's Irish Invitational wasn't on the schedule but when the opportunity to actually get in an outdoor meet finally presented itself, coach Tiger Tom Hart jumped at the chance.

Farmington competed well in its first official outdoor meet of the 2013 season, finishing fourth in a talent-rich seven-team field.

State power Prior Lake won team honors with 145.50 points, followed by Eagan 96, Rosemount 59, Farmington 58.5, Rochester Century 41, Eastview 38 and Northfield 23.

The Tigers didn't win any events but finished runner-up in four, three coming from Nadia Lorencz. The Michigan State recruit ranked second in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump.

The 4x400 relay quartet of Sofia Chadwick, Alicia Hett, Maria Kiminski and Megan Graham supplied the other second place points for the Tigers.

Graham also took third in the 400-meter dash and Isabelle Ferm placed third in the triple jump.

Ferm, the defending Missota Conference 400-meter champion, earned her third place finish in her only activity of the day as she suffered a minor injury jumping and sat out the remainder of the meet.

Megan Graham 2nd 4x400, 4th 400-meter run

Kiminski took fourth place in the 400-meter run and Emma Record scored a fourth place finish in the 100-meter dash.

The 4x800 relay foursome of Alex Frost, Sammi Hyytinen, Chadwick and Hett placed fifth as did Destiny Schmitz in the high jump. 

The 4x100 relay team of Kelli Elmer, Record, Jennifer Miller and Nicole Doran came in sixth.

Weather permitting, the Tigers will host their annual invitational meet Thursday at Tiger Stadium.

 

Boys Track: Finally, a day outdoors

Devon Webb set a ninth grade school record in the 800-meter run

With their own invitational meet scuttled because of  snow on the Tiger Stadium track, coach Brian Helmstetter was looking for somewhere, anywhere, the get his team some outdoor practice.

It came in the form of a multi-team get-together at Rosemount and according to Helmstetter, his team made the most of the opportunity.

"It was not an official, scored meet, but we came out of it with official times and distances, and we got our spikes on a track," he said. "It was a great."

Notable perfromances...
*Mason Auge ran a personal best 11.69 in the 100-meter dash
*Mike Husnik and Tanner Thode both went over 40 feet in the shot put
*Tanner Grubb and Tommy Weigel both went uner 23 seconds in the 200-meter dash
*Justin Hyytinen set another personal record in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:33
*Alex Hart broke the 5:00 mark in the 1600-meter run
*Tyler Lerbakken, Jared Wolt and and Devon Webb all went under 2:07 in the 800-meter run with Webb setting a freshman school record at 2:06.56
*24 of 56 400-meter runners finished in under 56 seconds
*The 4x400 relay team of Grubb, Weigel, Hyytinen and Lerbakken turned in a season-best time of 3:31.

"The boys ran awesome considering the weather," Helmstetter said, "but to them and the rest of Minnesota, mentally, it was an 80 degree day."