Jubilant Celebration as Huskies win Playoff Opener in Overtime [V

The Owatonna High School girls hockey team won a hard-fought 3-2 overtime game to open the Section 1AA playoffs at Farmington Wednesday night. That set off a jubilant celebration that started behind the net after Olivia Herzog's winning tally and continued at center ice for the sixth-seed Huskies.

Tigers coach Jon Holmes said before the game that Owatonna would have a "chip on their shoulder" after getting seeded as far down as they did despite a Big Nine Conference championship season. OHS coach Tony Cloud said this week that there was extra motivation to prove people wrong.

The game was back-and-forth all night long. After a scoreless first period, it appeared the game might go into second intermission 0-0 as well. However, Farmington's top goal scorer Sam Moehle fired a shot from the right half wall that hit the pipe and snuck past the Huskies' Ava Wolfe for a 1-0 Tiger lead at 15:07 of the second. Wolfe had 34 saves on the night. Farmington outshot OHS 36-27.

Owatonna's leading goal scorer answered back early in the third. Ezra Oien finished a rush with a sharp shot from between the top of the circles to even the game at 1-1 less than two minutes into the third. Molly Achterkirch assisted.

Farmington retook the lead at 10:36 on a shot from the blue line that was tipped in. Less than 90 seconds later Owatonna won a battle on the boards in the Tigers' zone. Oien shot and Acterkirch was there for the rebound to tie the game at 2-2 at 11:59. Macy Stanton got an assist as well.

OHS controlled overtime, outshooting Farmington 3-0. Herzog went top shelf after a scramble for the winner. Stanton assisted and the celebration was on.

Cloud said staying out of the penalty box was important after giving up three power play goals in a 4-3 loss December 28 at Farmington. The Huskies had just two penalties. The Huskies had an extended 5-on-3 power play in the first period but were denied by the Tigers.

The victory was the first over Farmington for Owatonna since the 2009-10 season.

OHS advances to the semifinals at Northfield Saturday, February 12 at 7 pm with coverage on AM 1390 KRFO and 94.7 FM. Owatonna tied and beat the Raiders during the season. The winner plays for the Section 1AA title Thursday, February 17 at 7:30 pm at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. Lakeville South and Lakeville North meet in the other semifinal Saturday. Farmington was the defending section champ.

Section 1AA girls hockey scoreboard
Wednesday, February 9
No. 6 Owatonna 3, No. 3 Farmington 2, overtime
No. 2 Northfield 10, No. 7 Rochester Mayo 0
No. 1 Lakeville South 11, No. 8 Century/JM 0
No. 4 Lakeville North 6, No. 5 Dodge County 3
Semifinals, Saturday, February 12
No. 6 Owatonna (16-8-2) at No. 2 Northfield (17-5-3), 7 pm KRFO AM 1390
No. 4 Lakeville North (12-13-1) at No. 1 Lakeville South (24-2)
Final, Thursday, February 17
Four Seasons Centre, Owatonna, 7:30 pm