MITCHELL – The Mitchell Marlins jumped out to a three-goal lead and ended up handing the Aberdeen Cougars their first setback of the season 6-1 in girls’ hockey action Friday night.

Brynlee Sabers had three goals and two assists to lead the Marlins. Brooke Jarman finished with two goals and one assist.

Kailyn Poppen scored Aberdeen’s lone goal, that coming in the second period.

The Cougars had 25 shots, but only one found the back of the net.

“We had some good opportunities to put the puck in the net multiple times, but it just didn’t bounce our way,” said Cougars coach Rob Weinmeister. “We made a few mistakes and Mitchell capitalized on them. The game was much closer than the score.”

Despite the setback, Weinmeister felt his young team played well against an older Mitchell squad.

“I thought for a majority of our team being underclassmen and them playing a lot of juniors and seniors in a physical game, we battled well in the second and third periods,” Weinmeister said.

The Cougars have a busy weekend. They play at Sioux Falls today before returning home to host Huron on Sunday.

“We’ll learn from this and get better,” Weinmeister said of the setback to Mitchell. “I look forward to playing them again.”

Aberdeen Cougars 0 1 0 – 1

Mitchell Marlins 1 2 3 – 6

First Period: 1, MM, Brynlee Sabers (Tiffany Hatwan), :39.

Second Period: 2, MM, Brooke Jarman (Sabers), 7:29; 3, MM, Sabers (Kate Nash and Jarman), 2:59; 4, AC, Kailyn Poppen (unassisted).

Third Period: 5, MM, Kelsey Amick (Nash), 14:19; 6, MM, Sabers (Jarman), 13:56; 7, MM, Jarman (Sabers), :46.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 25; Mitchell Marlins 34.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Ellen Orr (28 saves); Mitchell Marlins, Sade Kludt (24 saves).