WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Cougars stepped up their defense Friday night and shut down the Watertown Lakers.

The Cougars limited scoring opportunities from the opening puck drop on the way to a 6-0 girls’ hockey win.

“We put an emphasis on a defensive game tonight, and I like how the girls responded,” said Cougars coach Rob Weinmeister. “We backchecked hard and limited them to one shot (each shift) all night. It was a team effort defensively.”

Rachel Siefken provided the only goal Aberdeen would need in the closing minutes of the opening period. Alysssa Roehrich and Addyson Keller found the back of the net in the second period for the Cougars, before Kailyn Poppen scored twice and Keller added her second goal in the last period for the final margin of difference. Roehrich also had an assist in addition to her goal.

Aberdeen outshot Watertown by a 46-13 margin, against trying to limit the Lakers to just one shot per shift.

“We were trying to limit them to one shot and then clear the puck out,” Weinmeister said. “Basically clearing out the rebound, so they didn’t get another opportunity.”

The Cougars, now 11-6-1 on the season, are off until hosting Brookings next Saturday night at the Odde Ice Center.

Aberdeen Cougars 1 2 3 – 6

Watertown Lakers 0 0 0 – 0

First Period: 1, AC, Rachel Siefken (Kaylee Dixon), 1:33.

Second Period: 2, AC, Alyssa Roehrich (Allison Woehl), 3:33; 3, AC, Addyson Keller (Siefken, Alli Stoltenburg), 2:18.

Third Period: 4, AC, Kailyn Poppen (unassisted), 8:57; 5, AC, Poppen (Raniesa Mattke, Roehrich), 3:42; 6, Keller (Morgan Jones), 3:01.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 46; Watertown Lakers 13.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (13 saves); Watertown Lakers, Kira Reppe (40 saves).