GREENSBURG — Freeport’s hockey team had been testing Bishop McCort goalie John Bradley with a flurry of shots.

Midway through the second period, it began to produce results.

The Yellowjackets tied the game at 1 with a goal from Michael Frazetta, whose tally began a cascade of offense — five goals in a span of 15 minutes — and Freeport rolled to a 6-2 PIHL Class A first-round playoff victory over the Crushers Monday night at Kirk S. Nevin Arena.

After Frazetta’s score, Freeport gained strategic control of the game with a pair of goals just 50 seconds apart. A pass from Robert Reichenbaugh set Stone Haberstroh up for the Yellowjackets’ second score. Then, with just 34 seconds left in the period, Hunter Kepple beat Bradley despite having Bishop McCort’s Richard Phillips trying to drag him down from behind.

It was a momentum swing the Crushers were never able to overcome.

The Yellowjackets had tallied 13 shots on goal in the first period with nothing to show for it.

“The first (goal) always seems to be the toughest to get,” said Freeport coach Mel Reichenbaugh. “Those two quick scores really did take the wind out of their (Crushers) sails. Our kids keep playing until the end of the period.”

Already with a 3-1 lead, Freeport did not let up at the start of the third as Robert Reichenbaugh tallied a power play score after snagging a rebound off a shot from Ethan Waddell just 87 seconds into the period. Tommy Intrieri made it 5-1 three minutes later.

“We were just clicking and playing our game,” said Haberstroh. “We weren’t playing as individuals, we were playing Freeport hockey.”

Bishop McCort (13-10) took a 1-0 lead when Connor Bunn scored on a penalty shot with 12:40 remaining in the second period.

“They took it to us early in the game,” said Mel Reichenbaugh. “And then they get the goal and I started to worry. We just told our kids to stay composed and keep playing and they did.”

Bunn scored his second goal midway through the third and Frazetta scored an empty-net goal with a minute remaining.

Freeport goalie Matt Huston made 41 saves in the game while Bradley had 39 for the Crushers.

“We had opportunities, we just couldn’t capitalize on them,” said Bishop McCort coach John Bradley. “It wasn’t for lack of effort. We were probably a bit over-zealous.”

The win sends Freeport (13-8-2) to the quarterfinals, where it will face Mars (17-4-1) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at BladeRunners in Warrendale.

The teams split their two meetings this season. Mars won 6-1 in October and Freeport evened the score with a 6-2 victory in January.

“Mars is a quality team,” said Mel Reichenbaugh. “We have to be ready. It’s a quick turnaround.”