YARMOUTH

Yar mouth/ Freeport worked hard throughout Wednesday’s girls high school hockey game at Travis Roy Arena to earn power-play opportunities. In all, Winslow/Gardiner committed five infractions.

However, the Clippers did little with those chances, and the Black Tigers dominated the third period en route to a 7-4 victory.

Yar mouth/ Freepor t failed to score on its five man-up chances, managing just two shots and allowing a shorthanded goal, while Winslow/Gardiner had a power-play goal and added an empty-netter late in regulation.

“We struggled with the power play, and we just panicked and forgot that we had a man advantage. Winslow/Gardiner works hard and never gives up,” said Clippers coach Megan Vaughan after her squad fell to 0-1-1 on the young season. “It was a good lesson learned, and we realize that we need to get better. We have to keep driving, find ways to hit the net and get pucks in. There are a lot of even teams this year, so it comes down to the goals to decide a winner.”

The Winslow/Gardiner line of Evelyn Hinkley, Sarah Stevens and Anna Chadwick gave the Clippers fits throughout the contest. The trio teamed up for six goals and four assists, with Stevens scoring a hat trick.

“We need to work on taking those players with the body and moving our feet,” said Vaughan after she watched her team get outshot by a 34-16 count, including 17-3 in the third period when the Black Tigers scored three goals to pull away.

Early struggles

Yar mouth/ Freepor t started slow, with the Black Tigers (1-1) firing the game’s first eight shots and claiming a 2-0 lead. Desiree Veilleux scored the first goal off an assist from Ashley Lachance, and 41 seconds later, Hinkley buried a chance to double the advantage.

Winslow/Gardiner kept coming, but Clippers goaltender Allie Perrotta of Freeport kept her team in it, making eight first-period saves.

“I did my job as best as I could tonight,” said Perrotta, who discussed her joy of playing for the Clippers. “I really love it, playing and meeting new girls and becoming friends.”

The hosts climbed back into the game when Lizzie Guertier pushed the puck behind Black Tigers goaltender Cassandra Demers (12 saves) late in the opening frame.

The Clippers tied the game 33 seconds into the second period, with Sophie McGrath getting just enough of her shot to produce a goal.

A theme in the second period began as Winslow/Gardiner quickly answered, with Stevens scoring at 3:18 for a 3-2 Black Tigers advantage.

Again, Yarmouth/ Freeport tied it, this time on a goal from Lydia Guay, with Olivia O’Halloran and Margaret Perrotta assisting.

It took the Black Tigers just 22 seconds to reclaim the lead, this time off a goal from Chadwick. Winslow/ Gardiner carried its 4-3 lead into the third period.

Once again the Clippers scored early in period, with McGrath tallying just 1:40 into the third for a 4-4 deadlock.

From there, the Black Tigers controlled the game, pinning the Clipper defense inside their zone and forcing Allie Perrotta to stand on her head in goal.

“I trust my teammates that they would get it out, and it was my job to make the saves,” said Allie Perrotta, who had 27 stops. “We need a bit more conditioning and to take advantage of our shots when we get them.”

A shorthanded goal by Hinkley gave the Black Tigers a 5-4 lead, and a power-play marker from Stevens made it a 6-4 contest with 5:28 remaining. Stevens completed her hat trick with an empty-net goal with 26 ticks left to complete the scoring. Hinkley finished with two goals and two assists in the win.

Yar mouth/ Freepor t returns to action today at Cheverus/ Kennebunk, with face- off scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Black Tigers 7, Clippers 4

At Travis Roy Arena in Yarmouth

First period — 1. (W/G) Desiree Veilleux (Ashley Lachance), 7:53; 2. (W/G) Evelyn Hinkley (Sarah Stevens, Julia Hinkley), 8:34; 3. (Y/F) Lizzie Guertier (Emma Moll), 11:19. Penalty — (W/G) Evelyn Hinkley, tripping, 8:40. Second period — 4. (Y/F) Sophie McGrath (Lydia Guay), :33; 5. (W/G) Sarah Stevens (Anna Chadwick), 3:18; 6. (Y/F) Lydia Guay (Olivia O’Halloran, Margaret Perrotta), 7:14; 7. (W/G) Anna Chadwick (Evelyn Hinkley), 7:36. Penalties — (W/G) Bailey Robbins, hooking, 4:47; (W/G) Gabby Hebert, interference, 13:13. Third period — 8. (Y/F) Sophie McGrath (Lily Caulfield), 1:40; 9. (W/G) Evelyn Hinkley, sh, 4:06; 10. (W/G) Sarah Stevens (Evelyn Hinkley), pp, 9:32; 11. (W/G) Sarah Stevens, en, 14:34. Penalties — (W/G) Bench, too many, served by Dominique Velazquez, 2:59; (W/G) Anna Chadwick, hooking, 4:06; (Y/F) Sophie Newberg, hooking, 6:51; (Y/F) Paige Caulfield, slashing, 8:12. Shots on goal — (W/G) 10-7-17- 34; (Y/F) 3-10-3-16. Saves — (W/G) Cassandra Demers 12; (Y/F) Allie Perrotta 27. Power play — W/G 1-of-2; Y/F 0- of-5. Records — Winslow/Gardiner 1-1; Yarmouth/Freeport 0-1-1. Up next for the Clippers — At Cheverus/Kennebunk today at 4:30 p.m.