ST. PETER, MINN. – A pair of former Aberdeen Cougars are now national champions.

Sisters Hailey and Kaitlyn Holland recently won an NCAA Division III women’s hockey title with Gustavus Adolphus College, taking a 2-1 win over Amherst College in triple overtime.

And if that weren’t enough, it was Kaitlyn Holland, the younger of the two, that blasted home the game-winner.

“It was definitely very exciting,” Kaitlyn said. “I was a little bit shocked right away. My face, I just remember my eyes were wide, and I was like, ‘No way that actually went in.’”

Even seeing the puck in the back of the net wasn’t quite enough to convince her.

“I think I’m still in shock,” she said. “I definitely still have a smile on my face whenever someone talks about it.”

Hailey Holland, who wasn’t on the ice when Kaitlyn crashed in for the rebound shot and score, watched it all unfold from the bench area and had a similar reaction.

“I didn’t even process it right away,” Hailey said. “I saw our team start cheering and the refs hand point (at the net). I just froze. I looked at the people next to me. I just couldn’t process it. It was an unbelievable, surreal feeling.”

It did sink in, eventually, and Hailey couldn’t be happier for her sister.

“I was extremely excited for her,” Hailey said. ”She deserved it. She’s improved so much this year and I’m proud of her for everything she’s accomplished.”

For both Holland sisters, however, the national championship was always the goal. The Gusties reached the national title game last season, as well, but fell in overtime.

Neither was going to let that happen this year.

“Obviously, from last year, we weren’t happy about how it went,” Hailey said. “Especially being such a close game and going into overtime last year. We knew we deserved to be there.”

So when the Gusties reached the championship contest again this season, it was a singular focus for all.

“We were very excited,” Kaitlyn said. “I think in the back of our minds we had last year’s championship game floating around. We wanted to be on the other side and come out with the win. Just thinking of the best possibility and what we needed to do to come out the other side.”

Still, it was a nerve-wracking contest, setting a new record for the longest title game in DIII history and the first one to surpass a single overtime game. In fact, Kaitlyn game-winning goal came more than an hour after her teammate’s first goal of the game.

“I just had a gut feeling,” Hailey said. “Someone (from Gustavus Adolphus) was going to score, I didn’t know when, but I had a feeling we were going to get the lucky bounce. Every time I was out there I was like, ‘I’m not going to be the one to let them win.’”

Hailey indeed lived up to that, logging more than 100 minutes on the ice and finishing with 11 shots on goal. She was also named a Second Team West All-American and the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year for her efforts throughout the season.

For both sisters, however, the national championship was the reward they both sought above all else.

“It’s very rewarding,” Kaitlyn said. “I’ve been doing this my whole life, playing this sport. It’s paying off. It’s just a blast. I just have fun every time I’m with the team.”

Kaitlyn, a sophomore, and Hailey, a senior with a Covid season of eligibility remaining, both plan to return to the Gusties next season.