MITCHELL – The Aberdeen Cougars rallied twice, but could never get over the hump in a 4-3 boys’ hockey setback to the Mitchell Marlins on Sunday.

“We did not play well. We were very sloppy in our defensive zone and wound up chasing the puck around a lot,” said Cougars coach Dana Myhre. “We’re not disciplined and too selfish in the offensive zone, not moving the puck enough or quick enough.”

Mitchell scored first before the Cougars responded later in the opening period on a goal by Jaxon Danielson with assists by Trayke Roehrich and Paxton Dallmann.

The Marlins jumped in front later in the first period before Aberdeen leveled the score again, this time on a goal by Carter Vilhauer in the second period with assists by Roehrich and Briggs Medill.

The hosts then scored back-to-back goals in the second period to put the Cougars in a bigger hole. Aberdeen inched closer on an unassisted goal by Roehrich with 10:23 left in the third, but the Cougars were unable to tie the score once again.

Aberdeen outshot the Marlins by a 44-27 margin. However, the local squad managed just three goals in those 44 shots.

“We are constantly shooting the puck over the net and turning it over rather than just putting it on net and looking for rebounds,” Myhre said.

Andrew Weisenburger had 24 saves in goal for the Cougars.

Aberdeen has a break before playing at Oahe on Saturday, Feb. 7, and at Huron on Sunday, Feb. 8.

Aberdeen Cougars 1 1 1 – 3

Mitchell Marlins 2 2 0 – 4

First Period: 1, MM, Wyatt Rezac (Everett Morrison, Drake Grenier), 16:15; 2, AC, Jaxon Danielson (Trayke Roehrich, Paxton Dallmann), 8:13; 3, MM, Morrison (Grenier, Caden Schuldt), 1:39.

Second Period: 4, AC, Carter Vilhauer (Roehrich, Briggs Medill), 15:53; 5, MM, Morrison (Grenier), 13:09; 6, MM, Morrison (Carson Ziehl), 6:15.

Third Period: 7, AC, Roehrich (unassisted), 10:23.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 44; Mitchell Marlins 27.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Andrew Weisenburger (24 saves); Mitchell Marlins, Gavin Polreis (41 saves).