The Aberdeen Cougars once again got off to a slow start, but this time they did something about it.

Unlike two previous losses where Aberdeen was unable to recover from an early deficit, the Cougars responded to help fuel a 4-3 girls’ hockey win over the Rushmore Thunder at the Odde Ice Center Saturday night. It marked the first league win for first-year coach Amy Munsterman-Wills and also for the Cougars.

“It feels good. I needed it. I think they needed it, too, going into the rest of the season, and going into the next game,” Munsterman-Wills said, “especially knowing we are capable of this, so to finally get that and get some of that out of the way, feels good.”

The Cougars fell behind just over two minutes into the contest, and trailed for most of the opening period. Rachel Siefken tied the game with 2:50 remaining in the period, and then Olivia Sandvig provided a game-changing goal on a power play with just 11 seconds left in the period.

“I kind of just saw the pocket, went around and put it in there,” Sandvig said.

The senior was aware that time was winding down and she had to shoot quickly.

“I knew it was getting down,” Sandvig said, “so I was kind of like I better try and shoot instead of making a pretty play.”

That goal gave the Cougars a big shot of adrenaline heading into the break.

“It definitely got our momentum up, after being scored on right away,” Sandvig said.

That goal not only gave Aberdeen the lead, it also provided momentum for the hosts for the remainder of the contest.

“The environment or the atmosphere in the locker room was a lot better, especially coming off a goal like that, and coming off ahead,” Munsterman-Wills said. “I think that was important for them to build upon and keep that momentum going into the next period.”

While Rushmore eventually tied the game in the second period, Ashton Hadrick put the Cougars back in front on her first varsity goal.

“I didn’t think it went in,” Hadrick said.

The eighth-grader is in her first year on varsity. She said it is major difference from a year ago.

“It’s a lot more aggressive and it’s faster pace,” Hadrick said.

Despite the season being just a few weeks old, Hadrick has already made adjustments.

“At the beginning of the season I was a little bit more timid because I was nervous,” Hadrick said, “but now I feel like I just cruise with the team.”

She has goals in mind to keep improving for the rest of her initial season with the varsity.

“I really want to have more confidence with the puck and have louder communication,” Hadrick said, “and have a positive attitude all the time.”

The Cougars continued to lead by one until Siefken skated in on the Rushmore goalie and added an insurance goal with 1:26 remaining. It turned out Aberdeen needed that goal because the Thunder scored a goal of their own with 35 seconds left.

The outcome was the opposite of Friday night when the Cougars fell behind early against Watertown and never quite recovered in a one-goal loss.

“I think (Friday) night made us realize that we can’t get down on ourselves,” Sandvig said. “We’ve got to use that first goal to kind of give us some momentum and give us some drive to get some more.”

Of course it helps to have a veteran goalie like Chloe Vikander to help keep the Cougars within striking distance, no matter what the score.

“She’s a good safety net, for sure,” Sandvig said.

The Cougars will try to make it two wins in a row when they host the Mitchell Marlins at 2 this afternoon at the Odde Ice Center. It will be Aberdeen’s third game in three days.

“It’s going to be a little tiring,” Sandvig said, “but we’ve just got to push through it.”

Rushmore Thunder 1 1 1 – 3

Aberdeen Cougars 2 1 1 – 4

First Period: 1, RT, Victoria Eggers (unassisted), 14:42; 2, AC, Rachel Siefken (Olivia Sandvig), 2:50; 3, AC, Sandvig (Siefken, Kylee Herman), :11.

Second Period: 4, RT, Avery Eggers (unassisted), 12:06; 5, AC, Ashton Hadrick (Calley Gage, Chloecherie Heagley), 2:04.

Third Period: 6, AC, Siefken (unassisted), 1:26; 7, RT, Satori Pongklub (unassisted), :35.

Shots on Goal: Rushmore Thunder 21; Aberdeen Cougars 34.

Goalies: Rushmore Thunder, Bristol Simmons (30 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (18 saves).