The Aberdeen Cougars pulled away from an early tie and scored three unanswered goals to record a victory on Sunday afternoon.

The Cougars defeated Oahe 4-1 in girls’ hockey action at the Odde Ice Center.

Cougars coach Rob Weinmeister said there were positives and negatives about the way his team played.

“I liked our second period, I did not like our third period,” Weinmeister said. “I thought we were getting a little outworked in the third period. They were being a little bit more physical and just winning the races to the puck, so we were able to battle through and hang on.”

The Cougars struck first on a power play with a goal by Rachel Siefken before the Capitals tied the score. However, it was a goal at the end of the opening period by Kailyn Poppen that gave the Cougars the lead for good.

Poppen scored the goal as time expired off a rebound from a shot by teammate Alyssa Roehrich.

“There was like two seconds left on the clock and my teammate Alyssa shot it, and I was really proud that she shot it because we didn’t know if it would go in or if there would be a rebound,” Poppen said. “Luckily there was a rebound and just in the very end I hit a little tap-in, and it trickled in as the buzzer went off.”

Aberdeen added two more goals in the second period, one by Morgan Jones and another by Olivia Sandvig.

Weinmeister said there were key factors that allowed the Cougars to take the lead.

“I think right away just coming out and putting some shots on net and skating with a purpose,” Weinmeister said.

The win marked the final regular season home game for the Cougars.

“It felt really nice, especially to come together as a team,” Poppen said. “You’re all just cheering each other on, making each other feel like our best versions of ourselves, and we just wanted each other to excel.”

The Cougars will play at Sioux Falls next Monday in a critical league finale matchup.

Weinmeister outlined what the team is playing for and what must be done to get the win.

“We put ourselves in a good position. We got to go down and play Sioux Falls; if we beat them, we win the league again, if they beat us, they win the league,” Weinmeister said. “We’re going to take (Monday) off and then we’re going to come back Tuesday and we’re going to have to be a little bit more crisper on our passes, and decision-making is going to have to be quicker too, because it’s going to be a good game, but we’re going to have to be on top of it.”

Oahe Capitals 1 0 0 – 1

Aberdeen Cougars 2 2 0 – 4

First Period: 1, AC, Rachel Siefken, power play (Morgan Jones), 14:55; 2, OC, Brylee Kafka (Kiersten Miller), 5:31; 3, AC, Kailyn Poppen (Alyssa Roehrich), 0:00.

Second Period: 4, AC, Jones, power play (Alli Stoltenburg, Siefken), 15:43; 5, AC, Olivia Sandvig (Roehrich), 3:07.

Third Period: no scoring.

Shots on Goal: Oahe Capitals 21; Aberdeen Cougars 27.

Goalies: Oahe Capitals, Sophia Peschong (22 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (20 saves).