Section 1AA Semifinals: Alexander scores game-winner in third overtime

Hannah Alexander's goal five minutes, 33 seconds into the third overtime period advanced 15th-ranked Farmington past 12th-ranked Lakeville North 5-4 in a classic Section 1AA semfinal contest Tuesday night at Ames Arena.

The Tigers (20-6) trailed 4-2 late in the third period, but scored twice in the final 4:27 to force overtime. The teams played a scoreless eight-minute overtime, a scoreless 17-minute overtime and nearly six scoreless minutes of hockey in the third overtime before Alexander found the net to punch the Tigers' ticket to Friday's Section 1AA finals against top-seeded Lakeville South at the Four Seasons Center in Owatonna.

The Tigers held 1-0 and 2-1 leads thanks to a pair of early power-play goals by Krystal Baumann, but two second-period goals by Alli Harvey gave Lakeville North a 3-2 edge heading into the third.

The Panthers moved ahead 4-2 with a power play goal 7:15 into the third and the score stayed that way until Alexander scored her first goal of the game on a pass from Baumann with 4:27 left. Just over a minute later, Baumann broke free with the puck and scored her third power play goal of the game - and 53th goal of the season - to tie the game.

Betsy Anderson and Chloe Batta each assisted on two Farmington goals.

Junior goaltender Jessica Erchul improved to 8-4 in 12 career post-season games. She stopped 61 of Lakeville North's 65 shots, including all 24 over the three overtimes. Farmington took 26 shots in regulation and 10 in the overtimes.

Tags: girls hockey, sports, prep, tigers