BROOKINGS – A solid finish was unable to erase a brutal start for the Aberdeen Cougars Saturday night.

Brookings scored in two goals in the first minute of the game on the way to a 3-2 boys’ hockey victory over the Cougars.

The hosts scored two goals within 11 seconds in the opening minute to set the tone for the contest. Aberdeen responded, but was never able to get over the hump after that.

“It was not an ideal start to the game, giving up two early goals, but I thought the kids settled down and played pretty well after that,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “I thought we showed a lot of resiliency this game. After that start, it would have been easy to hang our heads and let the game get away from us, but we kept battling and made a game out of it.”

Aberdeen got one goal back in the opening period when Trayke Roehrich found the back of the net on assists from Aiden Posthumus and Lleyton Kleffman.

However, the Rangers added another goal in the second period to make the comeback task even more difficult.

Briggs Medill scored a goal for Aberdeen in the final minute of the third period, but it wasn’t quite enough.

“We knew it was going to be a tough test,” Backous of his team’s first road contest, “and I thought the team played pretty well.”

Carson Hundstad stopped 22 shots in goal for Aberdeen.

The Cougars, 2-1 on the season, play at Watertown today.

“There are some areas we need to improve on,” Backous said, “but it’s early in the season, and we’ll keep working to get better.”

Aberdeen Cougars 1 0 1 – 2

Brookings Rangers 2 1 0 – 3

First Period: 1, BR, Tre Christopherson (Nolan Krogman), 16:20; 2, BR, Riley Linstad (Jay Harris), 16:09; 3, AC, Trayke Roehrich (Aiden Posthumus, Lleyton Kleffman), 9:38.

Second period: 4, BR, Carson Kludt (Krogman, Cody Jacobson), 14:39.

Third Period: 5, AC, Briggs Medill (unassisted), :52.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 19; Brookings Rangers 29

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Carson Hundstad (26 saves); Brookings Rangers, Matthew Bothe (17 saves).