RAPID CITY – The Aberdeen Cougars closed periods with a flurry to help fuel an 8-0 girls’ hockey victory over the Rushmore Thunder on Sunday.
Aberdeen scored in the final minute of each of the three periods on the way to the win. Those finishes helped to overcome a bit of a slow start for the Cougars.
“I was proud of how we came together to overcome what was not our strongest start to the game,” said Aberdeen coach Rob Weinmeister.
Morgan Jones, Alyssa Roehrich, and Kailyn Poppen each found the back of the net for the Cougars in the opening period, the last goal coming with 6.5 seconds left.
Jones added another goal in the second period, before the Cougars produced three late goals fueled by extra motivation after an on-ice incident led to an injured player.
“Our team rallied and really poured it on and finished the period strong,” Weinmeister said.
That finish included a trio of goals in the final 1:35 of the period, one from Madeline Sandvig and two more from Roehrich.
Siefken then scored another goal in the final seconds of the third period to finish off the win.
Roehrich’s hat trick capped a weekend of five goals in two games against Rushmore.
“Alyssa had a great weekend,” Weinmeister said. “Those last two goals in the second, it was just all heart, effort and desire that created those opportunities.”
Aberdeen outshot Rushmore 33-15 in the contest.
The Cougars, 8-4 on the season, play at Sioux Falls on Saturday, and at Brookings on Sunday.
Aberdeen Cougars 3 4 1 – 8
Rushmore Thunder 0 0 0 – 0
First Period: 1, AC, Morgan Jones (Rachel Siefken), 10:03; 2, AC, Alyssa Roehrich (unassisted), 3:47; 3, AC, Kailyn Poppen (unassisted), :06.5.
Second Period: 4, AC, Jones (Siefken), 10:13; 5, AC, Madeline Sandvig (Jones), 1:35; 6, Roehrich (unassisted), 1:23; 7, AC, Roehrich (Poppen), :08.9.
Third Period: 8, AC, Siefken (Allison Woehl), :45.
Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 33; Rushmore Thunder 16.
Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (16 saves); Rushmore Thunder, Claire Larson (25 saves).
