Sioux Center scored five unanswered goals to start the game and picked up a 6-2 girls’ hockey win over the Aberdeen Cougars at the Odde Ice Center on Saturday afternoon.

“We had a slow start and Sioux Center outhustled us early,” said Aberdeen coach Amy Munsterman-Wills, “but we really started to pick it up in the second and third periods, and made a strong push in shots on goal.”

The Storm scored four goals in the opening period, three of them coming from Maci Cannegieter.

Aberdeen received goals from Kaylee Dixon and Addyson Keller in the third period to close the margin to 5-3 before Sioux Center added one more goal. Keller also had an assist on Dixon’s goal.

The Storm outshot Aberdeen 35-31. Chloe Vikander finished with 29 saves for the Cougars.

The same two teams are back on the ice at 3 this afternoon at the Odde Ice Center.

“We’re hoping to build on how we finished the game,” Munsterman-Wills said, “and come out stronger and ready to play right from the first puck drop (Sunday).”

Sioux Center Storm 4 1 1 – 6

Aberdeen Cougars 0 0 2 – 2

First Period: 1, SC, Maci Cannegieter (Riya Brenner), 14:07; 2, SC, Kirsten Curiel (Addson Svoboda, Cannegieter), 9:46; 3, SC, Cannegieter (Brenner), 4:04; 4, SC, Cannegieter (Brooklyn Byl, Brenner), 1:33.

Second Period: 5, SC, Brenner (Cannegieter, Maggie Wright), 5:56.

Third Period: 6, AC, Kaylee Dixon (Addyson Keller), 16:09; 7, AC, A. Keller (Riley Keller), 14:23; 8, SC, Byl (unassisted), 3:06.

Shots on Goal: Sioux Center Storm 35; Aberdeen Cougars 32.

Goalies: Sioux Center Storm, Hailey Schumacher (30 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (29 saves).