The Aberdeen Cougars dropped a 5-1 high school girls' hockey decision to the Oahe Capitals Saturday at the Odde Ice Center.
The Cougars didn't have their best effort, said Aberdeen coach Rob Weinmeister.
"We didn't come to play today for some reason," Weinmeister said. "The girls weren't crisp and got out-hustled. We didn't get it put together."
The visitors logged two goals in the first period, the first coming just 40 seconds into the game. Emily Weber's goal with 2:53 left in the first padded the lead.
Oahe's Megan Johnson extended the lead to 3-0, with a goal just 1:33 into the second period. Aberdeen cut the deficit to two as Hailey Gould found the net with 6:49 to play. The Cougars were outshot 28-20 in the game, but just 10-9 in the second period.
"We picked it up for a little bit (in the second period), even toward the end of the third," Weinmeister said. "We need to look for a sustained effort for the whole game and things will take care of themselves."
Weber's second goal of the game boosted the Oahe lead to 4-1 after two periods, and Johnson tallied the Capitals' final goal during the third period.
Hailey Huff faced 28 shots and made 23 saves for the Cougars while Tessa Singleton made 19 saves in 20 chances for Oahe. The teams meet again at 12:30 p.m. today at the Odde Ice Center.
Oahe Capitals| 2 2 1--5
Aberdeen Cougars| 0 1 0--1
First Period: 1, Oahe, Gabrielle Vizcarra, unassisted, 16:20; 2, Oahe, Emily Weber, unassisted, 2:53.
Second Period: 3, Oahe, Megan Johnson (Weber), 15:27; 4, Aberdeen, Hailey Gould, unassisted, 6:49; 5, Oahe, Weber (Logan Gesinger, Vizcarra), 1:11.
Third Period: 6, Oahe, Johnson (Vizcarra), 9:16.
Goalies: Oahe, Tessa Singleton (20 shots, 19 saves); Aberdeen, Hailey Huff (28 shots, 23 saves).