SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Cougars built a lead, lost it, then used a game-winning goal from Jack Podoll to edge the Sioux Falls Flyers West 5-4 in boys’ hockey action Saturday night.

The Cougars bolted out to an early lead with three straight goals to start the contest. Jaxon Danielson, Quincy Madsen and Aiden Posthumus each found the back of the net for Aberdeen.

“I thought it was a really solid team effort,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “We’ve been talking about the importance of starting a game the right away, so it was really nice to see it happen.”

Sioux Falls got one of those goals back late in the first period before Devon Fischbach scored for the Cougars to restore the three-goal margin.

However, the Flyers then scored three unanswered goals of their own to tie the score in the third period.

That’s when Podoll fired in the game-winner with 3:36 remaining. Podoll has produced late-game heroics before this season.

“Once again, it was Jack Podoll that came up with a big play to score the game-winner,” Backous said.

Sioux Falls outshot Aberdeen 29-20, but Colton Townsend turned away 25 shots in goal for the Cougars.

“Colton had another really big game in net for us,” Backous said.

Aberdeen faces the other Sioux Falls team today to wrap up the regular season.

“If we can play with urgency and intensity for an entire game, I feel like we can play with any team in the state,” Backous said, “and tonight I think we showed that.”

Aberdeen Cougars 3 1 1 – 5

Sioux Falls Flyers West 1 1 2 – 4

First Period: 1, AC, Jaxon Danielson (unassisted), 16:38; 2, AC, Quincy Madsen (Aiden Posthumus), 11:34; 3, AC, Posthumus (unassisted), 7:44; 4, SFW, Nathan Renken (Hudson Bergeson, Spencer Charron), 1:08.

Second Period: 5, AC, Devon Fischbach (Madsen, Danielson), 9:30; 6, SFW, Renken (unassisted), 2:13.

Third Period: 7, SFW, Renken (Mason Schramm, Carson Edwards), 10:14; 8, SFW, Jack Campbell (Schramm, Renken), 5:50; 9, AC, Jack Podoll (unassisted), 3:36.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 20; Sioux Falls Flyers West 29.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Colton Townsend (25 saves); Sioux Falls Flyers West, Easton Mescher (15 saves).