Hartley Aust

REDWOOD FALLS — Hartley Aust’s two twine-finding blasts during a three-goal second period triggered Fairmont Area’s comeback after a slow start against host Redwood Valley in a battle of Cardinal hockey teams on Friday night.

Aust’s game-best two tallies and goaltender Carson Johnson’s 16 saves helped Fairmont Area snap a five-game losing skid on the strength of a 4-2 Big South Conference triumph over Redwood Valley in Redwood Falls.

Ironically, Kilen Cilek and Riley Dikken struck like lightning off the game’s initial face-off, tacking up two goals on the scoreboard in less than 3 minutes of ice time. Cilek delivered a game-opening unassisted goal at the 1:33 juncture before Dikken duplicated his Redwood Valley teammate’s effort only 2:52 into the outing.

Nate Rakness, however, answered the challenge for Fairmont Area by paring the visitors’ deficit in half 8:26 into the first frame. Rakness smacked home an unassisted goal to inch Fairmont Area within 2-1.

Aust then got Fairmont Area’s offense revving by delivering the equalizer at the 8:36 mark of the second segment.

Knotted at 2-all, Brock Lutterman slapped home the go-ahead goal off a double-assist from Mathew Cone and Jace Prindle at the 15:27 juncture of the middle frame.

Aust then generated his second goal of the game by finding the webbing on the heels of a double-assist from Connor Gronewald and Matthew Steuber with only 32 seconds remaining in the second segment.

Johnson shut out Redwood Valley’s offense for the final two 17-minute periods to capture the win for Fairmont Area.

Fairmont Area’s offense unleashed 57 shots on goal for the night.

Fairmont Area (5-11) plays host to Winona at 3 p.m. today at Martin County Arena in Fairmont in a nonconference game.

FMT         1-3-0–4

RV            2-0-0–2

Scoring Plays

1st Period

RV–Kilen Cilek (unassisted), 1:33.

RV–Riley Dikken (unassisted 2:52.

FMT–Nate Rakness (unassisted), 8:26.

2nd Period

FMT–Hartley Aust (unassisted), 8:36.

FMT–Brock Lutterman (Mathew Cone, Jace Prindle), 15:27.

FMT–Hartley Aust (Connor Gronewald, Matthew Steuber), 16:28.

3rd Period

No scoring.