The Aberdeen Cougars wanted to make a point and ended up making an exclamation point at the Odd Ice Center Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars dominated Brookings on the way to a 10-0 girls’ hockey victory.

“Our effort was the difference in the game,” said Cougars coach Rob Weinmeister. “We were hustling. We were putting pressure on them, which created turnovers, which created opportunties for us.”

After graduating the bulk of their starting lineup a year ago, the Cougars want to make sure others know they are not going to back down to anyone.

“I think we really wanted to prove to Brookings at least that we beat them still even though we don’t have our older girls with us,” said Sydney Hofer, one of holdovers from last year’s state championship squad.

Hofer did her part to help set the tone, scoring two of the first three goals of the game and consistently beating Brookings players to the puck.

“We went out there wanting to win and prove to everyone that we are a good hockey team,” Hofer said. “I think we just really connected on our passes and skated hard, and basically kept the pressure on them.”

That all-out effort proved to be a key factor in the game as Aberdeen had three times as many shots on goal and kept the Rangers on their heels the entire way.

“That was one of our goals, win your shift and that includes winning the 50-50 pucks and the girls did,” Weinmeister said. “The girls skated hard today. They’re starting to connect on some of their passes and like I said the effort tonight was the difference.”

Aiden Raap ended up with four goals for the Cougars, including three straight to start the final period.

Morgan Jones, Allie Woehl, Ema Rehder and Kailyn Poppen each scored one goal for Aberdeen, which has now outscored its opponents 32-2 in four games so far this season.

Again, speed plays a key role for the Cougars.

“If you get the speed down, and then you get your stick handling and puck movement down, then you’re golden,” Hofer said.

The Cougars, who play at Watertown today, haven’t missed a beat so far this season with their new-look lineup as players have stepped up into their new roles.

“I like the team we have now,” Hofer said. “It’s a bit different, but I think we’re still playing as well as we were last year.”

Brookings Rangers 0 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen Cougars 2 4 4 – 10

First Period: 1, AC, Sydney Hofer (Rani Mattke), 11:12; 2, AC, Morgan Jones (Alyssa Roehrich), 6L09.

Second Period: 3, AC, Hofer (unassisted), 15:10; 4, AC, Aiden Raap (Madelynn Witte), 6:09; 5, AC, Allie Woehl (Addyson Keller and Rylee Hepper), 8:50; 6, AC, Ema Rehder (Jones and Madeline Sandvig), :13.

Third Period: 7, AC, Raap (Hofer), 13:58; 8, AC, Raap (Witte), 11:00; 9, AC, Raap (Kailyn Poppen, Jones), 8:15; 10, Poppen (Raap), 7:35.

Shots on Goal: Brookings Rangers 8; Aberdden Cougars 25.

Goalies: Brookings Rangers, Aletha Baker (10 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Ellen Orr (8 saves).