Farmington midfielder Ashley Steffes spent most of the game darting in and out of the Stillwater defense, setting up teammate and best friend Kamryn Corraro for goals.

So it was somewhat fitting that it was on a pass, rather than a shot, that Steffes’ tireless work generated a little luck.

Her pass from behind the Stillwater net bounced off the goalie’s stick and deflected into the goal 59 seconds into overtime. It gave the No. 5-seeded Tigers a 10-9 victory over No. 4-seeded Stillwater in the most closely contested quarterfinal game Tuesday in the girls’ lacrosse state tournament at Minnetonka High School.

“That was insane,” said Steffes, who was credited with the goal. “I was looking for a cutter and I totally thought it was going there. It should have definitely been a turnover. It was crazy.”

Stillwater had taken a 5-2 first half lead in the game but Farmington, making its first state tournament appearance, carried play for most of the second half. The Tigers, attacking constantly, rallied twice, finally getting the go-ahead goal from Alex Laube with 1:25 left in the game to take a 9-8 lead.

The Ponies were playing without two top players – Olivia Konigson was out with a knee injury suffered in section play and forward Abby Hagberg injured her shoulder during the game. But they got the equalizer with 8 seconds left in regulation when Gina Jablonski batted in a loose ball in front of the net.

“We can’t control the uncontrollable and that was an uncontrollable,” said Corraro, who finished with five goals, most of them on passes from Steffes. “That was unfortunate, but we were super-confident because we know we can score.”

The game-winner may have been unconventional but, to the Farmington players, it less a fluke than the by-product of their effort.

“We play with passion and emotion and intensity,” Steffes said. “We won because we got back to trusting each other and playing our game.”

JIM PAULSEN

First report

Farmington scored just 59 seconds into overtime to defeat Stillwater 10-9 and advance to the semifinals.

Ashley Steffes was credited with the goal. She was passing from behind the Ponies' goal, but it hit the Stillwater goalie’s stick and deflected into the net.

Farmington rallied twice from multiple-goal deficits in the second half to take a 9-8 lead on Alex Laube’s goal with 1:25 left in the game. Stillwater tied the game with 8 seconds left in regulation when Gina Jablonski batted in a loose ball in front of the next, tying the game 9-9.

Check back later for more on the game.