SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Cougars battled back to a 3-3 tie, but could not find answers to the final two goals from the Oahe Capitals, falling 5-3 to the fourth-seed in the opening round of the State Boys’ Hockey Tournament Friday in Sioux Falls.

Aberdeen had answered Oahe goal-for-goal through the first three scores of the game, but went into the second intermission trailing 4-3. Oahe tacked on an insurance goal with two minutes remaining in the third period for the final margin.

“I thought we generated a lot of opportunities in the third period,” said Cougars head coach Jeremey Backous. “We just weren’t able to find the back of the net.”

Jacob Scheel had two goals for the Cougars, and Phillip Zens had the third. Zens and Scheel both scored in the middle of the second period to forge that 3-all tie. Oahe slipped in the go-ahead goal just ahead of the intermission on a power-play opportunity.

The power play, Backous noted, played a big role in the overall outcome of the game.

“Penalties were the difference,” he said. “We gave up two power-play goals and that ended up being the difference.”

The fifth-seeded Cougars will take on No. 8 Watertown in the consolation semifinals today. Puck drops at 2:05 p.m. for that contest.

“It was a tough loss, but we have to find a way to come back (Saturday) and get a win,” Backous noted.

Aberdeen handled the Lakers easily in both regular season meetings, winning by final scores of 8-1 and 9-0.

Aberdeen Cougars 1 2 0 – 3

Oahe Capitals 2 2 1 – 5

First Period: 1, Oahe, Jaren Beck (Carter Sanderson, Keenan Howard), power play, 5:04; 2, Aberdeen, Jacob Scheel (Jacob Grau), 6:34; 3, Oahe, Ashton Griese (unassisted), 11:59.

Second Period: 4, Oahe, Barret Schweitzer (Jonathan Lyons), 3:49; 5, Aberdeen, Phillip Zens (Andrew Coughlin), 5:33; 6, Aberdeen, Scheel (Mason Carrels, Kasen Claymore), 10:14; 7, Oahe, Howard (Griese, Beck), power play, 13:07.

Third period: 8, Oahe, Sanderson (Beck), 14:16.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 30; Oahe Capitals 27.

Goalies: Aberdeen, Carter Hundstad (25 saves); Oahe, Carter Schulz (24 saves).