CATCH-AND-DROP ­— Fairmont Area’s Tyson Pankow (left) catches the puck and drops it behind Windom Area’s Bradly Gentry during Big South Conference hockey action Tuesday night at Martin County Arena in Fairmont. The visiting Eagles went on to edge the Cardinals, 4-2. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The Fairmont Area Cardinals boys hockey team dropped its second game in a row, 4-2, against the visiting Windom Area Eagles on Tuesday night.

The Eagles came out firing, snatching momentum from the Cardinals early in the opening period of the Big South Conference face-off.

At the 16:18 mark of the first frame, Eagles freshman forward Ian Nelson collected a pass from senior forward Sonny Heil and found the back of the net.

The Eagles didn’t let up after that.

Eight minutes later, it was Heil scoring the goal for the Eagles off a dime from fellow senior forward Wriley Haugen. Just like that, the Eagles held a 2-0 advantage entering the second period.

Cardinal head coach Dylan Van Brocklin is frustrated with his team’s inconsistent energy to start games.

“I think we just need to figure out something for our warm-up,” Van Brocklin said. “Get more movement in there and get them ready, obviously the drills we are doing and the drills they do off ice aren’t working.”

The second period seemed to begin just like the first, until Fairmont Area showed the tell-tale signs of a comeback attempt.

A little under halfway through the second, Wriley Haugen scored a goal for the Eagles off a find from Ian Nelson. Haugen finished the night with one goal and one assist for Windom Area.

Not even a full minute later, the Eagles added to their lead with a second goal from Sonny Heil off an assist from Ian Nelson yet again. Heil would shine for the Eagles finishing with two goals and an assist. Nelson also did his part, ending up with one goal and a pair of assists.

The momentum would turn however.

After being outshot by more than 10 shots to that point, the Cardinals became uber aggressive. At the 7:49 mark of the second, Cardinals senior forward Lucas Sommers awoke. Sommers scored off an assist from sophomore forward Tyson Pankow to get the Cardinals on the board.

In the third period, it was all Cardinals.

Fairmont would outshoot Windom 17-8 over the final period and would score one last goal. With 2:39 remaining in the game, Sommers found the crease yet again off a pass from junior forward Tyler Kurt to make the score 4-2.

“So, he (Sommers) moved here last year from Wisconsin and he told us he sits in front of the net and that’s how he’d get us goals, and he didn’t want to listen so much last year,” Van Brocklin said. “So we are kind of letting him do what he’s more comfortable with instead of just trying to move him around and its working — I think he is leading the team in points and goals right now.”

Both goalkeepers saw their fair share of shots on the night.

Fairmont’s senior keeper Carson Johnson faced 36 shots, making 32 saves for the Cardinals. Opposing him was Windom’s senior Adam Dahna in net. Dahna finished the night with 32 saves of his own against 34 total shots.

The Eagles climb to 2-5 overall following their second straight victory and look to make it three in a row at 7 p.m. Friday against New Ulm at home in Windom.

The Cardinals fall to 1-8 overall on the season and look to get back in the win column at 7 p.m. Thursday against St. Paul Johnson on the road at Johnson (Como).

Windom 2 2 0–4

Fairmont 0 1 1–2

Scoring Plays

1st Period

WA–Ian Nelson (Sonny Heil), 16:18.

WA–Sonny Heil (Wriley Haugen), 8:10.

2nd Period

WA–Wriley Haugen (Sonny Heil), 9:30.

WA–Sonny Heil (Ian Nelson), 8:39.

FA–Lucas Sommers (Tyler Pankow), 7:49.

3rd Period

FA–Lucas Sommers (Tyler Kurt), PP., 2:39.

Shots–Windom Area 36; Fairmont Area 34.

Saves–Carson Johnson (FA) 32; Adam Dahna (WA) 32.