WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Cougars began their state title defense with an 11-0 victory over the Oahe Capitals on Friday night.
Kaitlyn Holland scored five goals and assisted on another to lead the victory. Joclyn Orr contributed a pair of goals as the Cougars peppered the Oahe goal with 55 shots.
“We did not come out the way we wanted in the first period,” said Cougars Coach Shelby Edwards. “Despite a slow 17 minute start we dominated the rest of the game only allowing a handful of shots on Ava Myhre.”
Estelle Harrison, Kailyn Poppen, Sidney Hofer and Shelby Nash each scored once for the Cougars. Morgan Dean assisted on four goals in the contest.
Aberdeen takes on the Mitchell Marlins in the semifinals this evening.
“Not the way we want to come out and start the tournament. We have to be prepared Saturday as Mitchell is going to come out and give us everything they’ve got,” Edwards said. “I am confident if we come out and play our game and put three periods together we will have success.”
Oahe Capitals 0 0 0 – 0
Aberdeen Cougars 2 5 4 – 11
First Period: 1, Aberdeen Cougars, Kaitlyn Holland (Danielle Podoll), 10:13; 2, Aberdeen Cougars, Holland (Morgan Dean), 13:04.
Second Period: 3, Aberdeen Cougars, Joclyn Orr (Kailyn Poppen), :39; 4, Aberdeen Cougars, Holland (Dean and Podoll), 3:37; 5, Aberdeen Cougars, Estelle Harrison (Poppen and Lauren Scheel), 5:04; 6, Aberdeen Cougars, Poppen (unassisted), 5:46; 7, Aberdeen Cougars, Sidney Hofer (Dean and Holland), 9:58.
Third Period: 8, Aberdeen Cougars, Holland (unassisted), 8:27; 9, Aberdeen Cougars, Orr (Harrison and Poppen), 9:25; 10, Aberdeen Cougars, Shelby Nash (Podoll), 11:53; 11, Aberdeen Cougars, Holland (Dean), 14:39.
Goalies: Oahe Capitals, Abigail Stewart Fromm, 44 shots, 37 saves, and Sophia Peschong, 11 shots, 7 saves; Aberdeen Cougars, Ava Myhre 7 shots, 7 saves.
