The Aberdeen Cougars scored three unanswered goals to rally for a 4-3 boys’ hockey win over Sioux Falls Saturday night at the Odde Ice Center.

Phillips Zens put the Cougars in front in the opening period before Sioux Falls took control with three straight goals.

Aberdeen chipped away at the deficit with another goal from Zens in the second period, tied the score on a Mason Carrels goal midway through the third, and then took the lead for good on Brendan Livermont’s goal with 6:37 remaining.

“I thought we started the game off pretty well with an early goal, but Sioux Falls really applied a lot of pressure and we struggled to handle pucks and make plays after that,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “We had a lot of turnovers and dug ourselves a 3-1 hole to end the first period.”

The Cougars stayed at it, however, and kept Sioux Falls off the scoreboard the remainder of the contest.

“I’m proud of the way the team continued to battle through all of our penalties and chip away at the Sioux Falls lead before finally tying the game in the third and eventually scoring the game-winner,” Backous said. “We have some areas of our game we have to clean up, but it’s nice to get the win.”

Sioux Falls (2) 3 0 0 – 3

Aberdeen Cougars 1 1 2 – 4

First Period: 1, AC, Phillip Zens (Carson Myhre), 12:12; 2, SF, Camden Ponto (Mason Schramm, Tryg Smoot), 9:09; 3, SF, Schramm (unassisted), 6:19; 4, SF, Cooper Goehring (Smoot), 4:58.

Second Period: 5, AC, Zens (Myhre), 1:27.

Third Period: 6, AC, Mason Carrels (Jacob Grau), 8:39; 7, AC, Brendan Livermont (Andrew Woehl), 6:37.

Shots on Goal: Sioux Falls 18; Aberdeen Cougars 29.

Goalies: Sioux Falls, Cole Langston (25 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Carson Hunstad (15 saves).