MITCHELL – Playing with its third different goalie in the past three days, the Aberdeen Cougars came up short against the Mitchell Marlins on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 3-1 girls’ hockey decision.

After losing starting goalie Chloe Vikander to injury on Friday, the Cougars turned to Addyson Keller on Saturday, and gave Hadley Herman her first start in goal on Sunday.

“We were a bit distracted I think today,” said Cougars coach David Sandvig. “Hadley played well stepping up for the team. I know she was nervous, but she handled it.”

Herman had 19 saves to help keep the Cougars in the contest.

The Marlins, who had dropped a pair of games to Aberdeen earlier this season, broke the game open with three unanswered goals in the second period, all coming within three minutes of each other.

Aberdeen got one back on an unassisted goal from Rachel Siefken about five minutes into the third period, but the Cougars were unable to find the back of the net the rest of the way.

The setback was the third league loss in a row for Aberdeen after winning nine straight to start the season. The Cougars outshot Brookings in both of those games, and shots were nearly identical against Mitchell.

“The games were all tight and we had our chances,” Sandvig said. “We just need to outscore not just outshoot and outplay. We’ll continue working on getting points out of our efforts going forward.”

The Cougars remain in second place in the league standings. The squad will play games in Sioux Falls on Saturday and Sunday.

Aberdeen Cougars 0 0 1 – 1

Mitchell Marlins 0 3 0 – 3

First Period: no scoring.

Second Period: 1, MM, Tristen Zimmer (MaKenna Tronnes), 16:43; 2, MM, Tronnes (Analeigh Hotchkiss, Reese Amick), 14:30; 3, MM, Karlie Konfrst (Amick), 13:44.

Third Period: 4, AC, Rachel Siefken (unassisted), 12:18.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 21; Mitchell Marlins 22.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Hadley Herman (19 saves); Mitchell Marlins, Kaylie O’Connor (20 saves).