The Aberdeen Cougar boys had another tough time with Rushmore on Sunday, but while the score may not show it, had a better effort.

The squad from Rapid City took advantage of numerous scoring chances to complete a weekend sweep of the Cougars with an 8-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Odde Ice Center. The score was similar to a 7-0 decision on Saturday, but Cougars coach Jeremey Backous noticed improvement out of his team.

“The outcome was about the same, but we showed much more life today,” Backous said. “We had some offensive zone time and generated scoring chances.”

One of those chances found the back of the net as AJ Dabney scored early in the second period for the Cougars.

However, like it did on Saturday, Rushmore dominated shots on goal, peppering the Aberdeen end with 54 shots. Alexander Dietrich had a pair of goals for Rushmore, which received goals from seven different players.

“They’re a really good team,” Backous said, “and they didn’t waste any time capitalizing on our mistakes.”

The Cougars went 0-2-1 during its season-opening weekend after tying with Mitchell on Friday. Aberdeen has another busy weekend ahead, playing at Huron on Friday, and hosting Sioux Falls 1 on Saturday night, and then hosting Sioux Falls 2 on Sunday afternoon at the Odde Ice Center.

Rushmore 3 4 1 – 8

Aberdeen Cougars 0 1 0 – 1

First Period: 1, Rush, Zeke Farlee (Easton Knoll, Marshall Retzer), 13:24; 2, Rush, Knoll (Wyatt Reeder), 6:55; 3, Rush, Colton Merchen, 5:18.

Second Period: 4, AC, AJ Dabney, 12:29; 5, Rush, Reeder (Landon Bartling), 11:57; 6, Rush, Alexander Dietrich (Farlee), 11:25; 7, Rush, Dietrich, 7:16; 8, Rush, Bartling (Farlee, Kaleb Merchen), 1:45.

Third Period: 9, Rush, Layne Jensen (Reeder), 7:23.

Shots on Goal: Rushmore 41; Aberdeen Cougars 16.

Goalies: Rushmore, Tanner Kopec (15 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Samuel Casper (33 saves).