Falcons Win Playoff Opener in Overtime

Faribault beat La Crescent 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night in the first round of the Section 1A boys' hockey tournament. The Falcons go to top-seed Albert Lea Thursday at 7PM with the coverage on Power 96 radio. Eighth-seed Faribault lost to the ninth-seen Lancers 4-1 on February 1. Their only lead on Wednesday came at 6:31 of overtime when Braden Schroeder wheeled around in the offensive zone and fired a shot from the top of the left circle into the net.

The prospect of overtime seemed like a long shot when the Falcons were called on a penalty with about two minutes ago and trailing 2-1. Faribault drove the puck down the ice on the penalty kill several times and sent players flying into the zone after it. The plan paid off when Dylan O'Neil jammed the puck into the net from a scrum on the edge of the net before it became dislodged to tie the game at 2-2 with 1:16 remaining. A few seconds later La Crescent appeared to have scored, but the Falcons' cage came loose and the whistle blew a moment before the puck went in.

The game was scoreless through the first period despite a few quality chances for the Falcons that were blocked. One potential goal was stopped when a La Crescent player kicked the puck away from the net after it got behind the goalie. It looked like the game might go to the second intermission scoreless, but Alex Boudreau fired a shot from the right point into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Faribault's Brett Vogelsberg tied the game at 1-1 midway through the third period. The Lancers took a 2-1 lead on a power play goal by Lucas Wieser at 12:03. The Falcons (9-14-2) outshot La Crescent 33-25. Faribault has lost twice this season to Albert Lea, 5-1 December 5 and 9-2 February 15. The winner advances to the section semifinals Saturday at the Rec Center in Rochester.