WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Cougars were unable to overcome a slow start in a 3-2 setback to the Watertown Lakers in girls’ hockey action Friday night.

The hosts scored a pair of first-period goals and never trailed in the contest.

“We had a slow start in the first period, but we picked it up in the second, and the third period was even better,” said Cougars coach Amy Munsterman-Wills. “How we finished is how we need to start, and I know the girls are capable of that.”

The Cougars sliced the deficit in half early in the second period on a goal by Addyson Keller, assisted by Rachel Siefken and Kaylee Dixon. However, Watertown regained its two-goal margin with a goal later in the period.

The Lakers played with 3-1 lead until the closing minutes of the third period when Siefken found the back of the net on an assist from Keller with 2:04 remaining. However, the Cougars would get no closer.

“By the end of the game we were moving the puck better and generating a lot of good opportunities in front of the net,” Munsterman-Wills said. “Those are chances we’ll look to capitalize on as we move forward. If we can start our games closer to the way we ended this one, we’ll put ourselves in a good position for a competitive season.”

Aberdeen will cap a busy weekend of hockey by hosting two games at the Odde Ice Center. The Cougars face Rushmore at 6 tonight, and take on Mitchell at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Aberdeen Cougars 0 1 1 – 2

Watertown Lakers 2 1 0 – 3

First Period: 1, W, Harper Hendricks (Emma Schleusener), 14:29; 2, W, Gracelyn Webb (Sheylin Stricherz), 11:02.

Second Period: 3, AC, Addyson Keller (Rachel Siefken, Kaylee Dixon), 11:40; 4, W, Webb (Piper Krueger), 2:26.

Third Period: 5, AC, Siefken (Keller), 2:04.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 35; Watertown Lakers 32.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (32 saves); Watertown Lakers, Nylah Vannelli (30 saves).