SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Cougars rallied from a two-goal deficit to topple the second-seeded Sioux Falls Flyers East 4-2 in the opening round of the State Boys’ Hockey Tournament Thursday afternoon.

“It was an awesome win for us for sure,” said Aberdeen coach Dana Myhre. “We started out a bit slow, and I think the boys were a little nervous to start, but we came out to play in the second and kept it going the rest of the game.”

After giving up a pair of goals and being outshot 13-3 in the opening period, things started to change.

Derek Holland put the Cougars on the board in the second period to cut the deficit in half. Aberdeen then outscored the Flyers 3-0 in the final period to complete the comeback for the victory.

Paxton Dallman tied the game with nine minutes remaining, before Carter Vilhauer scored back-to-back goals to put the Cougars over the top. Vilhauer scored an unassisted goal with six minutes left and then added an empty netter in the closing seconds for the final margin of difference.

When asked what he said following the opening period to help the Cougars turn things around, Myhre said, “Just told them we need to be more aggressive getting to the puck, win races and battles.”

As a result, the Cougars defeated a Sioux Falls foe and won an opening round game at state for the first time in at least 15 years, according to Myhre.

“Hard-fought win and I’m proud of the boys for the way they competed,” Myhre said.

The Cougars will face the Yankton Bucks in the semifinals at 5 tonight. The two teams split a pair of games during the regular season.

“I think if we play like we did today, we have a very good chance against Yankton,” Myhre said. “We split with them this season, so the guys know they can beat them and they know what they need to do in order to make that happen.”

Aberdeen Cougars 0 1 3 – 4

Sioux Falls Flyers East 2 0 0 – 2

First Period: 1, SF, Hayden Hansen (Ryan Fenton, Beckett Rothrock), 7:48; 2, SF, Fenton (Hansen), 11:17.

Second Period: 3, AC, Derek Holland (Trayke Roehrich, Carter Vilhauer), 11:17.

Third Period: 4, AC, Paxton Dallman (Vilhauer), 9:05; 5, AC, Vilhauer (unassisted), 6:08; 6, AC, Vilhauer (Wheeler Malsam, Jaxon Danielson), empty net, :04.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 23; Sioux Falls Flyers East 32.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Andrew Weisenburger (28 saves); Sioux Falls Flyers East, Lincoln Turner (20 saves).