No. 1 Aberdeen makes finals, Watertown goes 0-2 in state girls hockey

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·2 min read
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SIOUX FALLS — The top-seeded Aberdeen Cougars advanced to the championship game of the 2023 South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association's varsity girls state tournament on Saturday with a 5-2 semifinal win over the Mitchell Marlins.

No. 3 Brookings knocked off No. 2 Sioux Falls 5-1 in the other semifinal. In consolation semifinals, Sioux Center (Iowa) slipped past Oahe 7-6 and Rushmore downed the Watertown Lakers 5-2. Brylee Kafka scored six goals for Oahe.

Lauren Scheel and Alyssa Roehrich each had two goals and an assist for Aberdeen. Ema Rehder also scored and Kailyn Poppen, Aiden Raap and Raniesa Mattke also tallied assists. Chloe Vikander made 15 saves.

Livaya Mimmack and Tristen Zimmer each scored goals for Mitchell, which got 31 saves from Sadie Kludt.

Lucia Vidas and Adriana Clark each scored two goals for Rushmore.

The Lakers (2-20 overall and 2-16 in SDAHA play) got goals from Harper Hendricks and Kaelyn Melville. Janel Lloyd and Jayda Kranz each were credited with assists. Angelyn Birnell recorded 21 saves in net.

On Friday, Aberdeen opened the tourney with an 8-0 win over Watertown.

Rachel Siefken scored two goals and Poppen, Morgan Jones, Rehder, Mattke and Roehrich each one for Aberdeen. One goal was not credited. Siefken, Rehder, Mattke, Roehrich, Kalin Hepper and Raap each had assists.

Aberdeen outshot Watertown 51-6. Vikander made six saves for Aberdeen and Kira Reppe 43 for Watertown.

In other first-round games, No. 5 Mitchell topped No. 4 Rushmore 4-2, No. 2 Sioux Falls handled No. 7 Sioux Center (Iowa) 7-1 and No. 3 Brookings defeated No. 6 Oahe 3-1.

The tourney concludes with three games on Sunday. Rushmore and Sioux Center meet for fifth place at 9 a.m., followed by Mitchell and Sioux Falls for third place at noon and the championship game between Aberdeen and Brookings at 3 p.m.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Aberdeen Cougars set to meet Brookings Rangers for championship.