PITTSBURGH — As Mars and Freeport wrote the latest chapter in a heated rivalry at Penguins Pond, something had to give.

Neither team had tasted defeat in over a month, but Craig Mazzotta tallied two goals and two assists in helping the Planets to their ninth straight victory on Wednesday with a 4-1 PIHL Class A triumph and halted Freeport’s six-game win streak.

The contest at Highmark Stadium’s outdoor rink featured 23 penalties and plenty of jawing between the squads.

“There’s a lot of history between Mars and Freeport over the years,” said Mars coach Steve Meyers. “They’re a physical team and we’re a physical team. So, you kind of expected this coming into it.”

The Planets (10-2-1) jumped out to an early lead thanks to a goal from Mazzotta on the power playwith 11:33 to go in the first period. He was assisted by Nick Berteotti.

“I saw open ice,” said Mazzotta, who later notched his 15th goal of the season. “The defense stepped up, I just went around them and I saw an open spot in the top corner.”

The score gave Mars early momentum and the Planets never let go.

“It’s huge. When you get that first goal, our system just falls right into place for us,” said Meyers. “A lot of teams might sit back, but we just keep pushing and pushing and pushing.”

Mars extended its lead to 2-0 when freshman Owen Vasbinder deposited a shot into the back of the net off assists from Mazzotta and Max Master with 43 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

“Early in the game, we weren’t back-checking,” said Freeport coach Dave Hepler. “We gave the guys time and space to do what they wanted to do before our forwards got back into the zone.”

The Planets padded the cushion to 3-0 on Mazzotta’s second score of the contest with 7:04 to go in the second period.

Freeport (8-2-1) didn’t go away, though, and cut the deficit back to 3-1 before the end of the frame.

Cole Hepler attacked the net and was turned away by Mars goalie Christian Knapp — who finished with 21 saves — before Hunter Kepple put his stick on the rebound and tallied his fifth goal of the season.

“Fortunately, it came right up to me,” said Kepple.

However, it was the only time Freeport managed to cash inon numerous chaotic chances up front.

“It could have been a very different game if we would have capitalized on just a few of the scrums we had in front of the net,” said Coach Hepler. “Hunter Kepple was coming right in after (Cole) and buried it. That’s what we need to do a lot more of.”

Part of the problem was the Planets’ defense.

“We had guys breaking up shots all night,” said Meyers. “When guys are blocking shots, you know they’re into the game.”

Mars added an empty-netter off the stick of Master with 58 seconds left in the third, which cued the end of the contest due to constraints with ice time. Freeport goalie Matt Huston recorded 28 saves for the Yellowjackets.

The Penguins Pond’s atmospherewas just a footnote considering the clash between two of the top teams in Class A.

“We try to tell the guys to go out and enjoy it,” Meyers explained, “but let it go after warm-ups because we have a big game to win.”

Despite the stakes, the experience left an impact on players from both teams.

“It’s nice. It’s great for the kids,” said Hepler. “I think they all loved it.”

No one might have enjoyed it more than Mazzotta, though.

“I’m sure I’ll look back on it,” he said. “I feel I played a really good game and it will just stay with me for a while.”