BROOKINGS – The Aberdeen Cougars found themselves facing a three-goal deficit and were not able to recover, eventually falling 4-3 to the Omaha Lancers in the championship game of the Dakota Premier Classic in Brookings on Sunday morning.

The squad from Nebraska scored two goals in the opening period and then added another in the second to take a 3-0 lead into the third period.

The Cougars came to life as Aiden Raap cut into the deficit only to have Omaha answer back in what would prove to be the game-winner. Aberdeen closed the margin down to one after goals from Alyssa Roehrich and Raap, but the Cougars could not get the equalizer.

“I thought we kind of got behind a little to start the game,” said Cougars coach Rob Weinmeister. “Some of that might have been the fourth game in three days and playing the last game (Saturday) and needing to be back at the rink to play a quality team less than 12 hours later.”

However, the Cougars finished the contest strong and outshot the Lancers by four.

“I’m proud of how the girls responded. It was a very physical game, but they continued to battle and we put ourselves in a good position in the third,” Weinmeister said. “Even though they had the same depth, I think we were starting to gain more momentum in the third, but ran out of time.”

The setback snapped Aberdeen’s 12-game winning streak dating back to Dec. 31. The Cougars are now 21-4 on the season and host Oahe on Friday at the Odde Ice Center in their final home game of the season, before capping league play with games at Brookings on Saturday, and Oahe on Sunday.

The Cougars plan to learn from the Omaha game and move on.

“I do think we can learn from this game and it will make us better as we prepare for our post season,” Weinmeister said. “Our team battled and played a good game. We have nothing to be ashamed about.”

Aberdeen Cougars 0 0 3 – 3

Omaha Lancers 2 1 1 4 – 4

First Period: 1, OM, Aubrey Morrison (Rachael Mize), 9:18; 2, OM , Morrison (Natalie Saldi, Calissa Klein), 2:04.

Second Period: 3, OM, Kiana Leu (Charlee Lacina, Carly Horacek), 14:33.

Third Period: 4, Aiden Raap (Kailyn Poppen, Alyssa Roehrich), 14:09; 5, OM, MaKenna Filleman (Sophia Crinklaw); 6, AC, Roerich (Poppen, Morgan Jones), 9:18; 7, AC, Raap (Ema Rehder), 4:08.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 23; Omaha Lancers 19.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Chloe Vikander (15 saves); Omaha Lancers, Brynn Knaus (20 saves).