WEST KITTANNING — After skating to a 3-3 tie in their PIHL season opener, Freeport and Westmont Hilltop faced off again Thursday night at the Belmont Ice Complex with intentions to settle the score.

For the second time in eight days, there was no resolution.

Stone Haberstroh scored a short-handed goal to tie it with 14 minutes left in the third period, but Freeport couldn't push another one across and settled for a 2-2 draw against the Hilltoppers.

The Yellowjackets (0-0-2) began the third period trailing 2-1 and were on the penalty kill for the first 3:36 of the final stanza.

However, Haberstroh took a pass from Jared Kapustik on the right boards, nimbly avoided a defenseman and beat the goalie to even the game at two goals apiece.

“He made a nice move, almost got drug down, stayed on his feet, made a nice move on the goalie and tied it up,” said Freeport coach Dave Hepler. “That's what we needed. ... From the bench, it felt like we dominated the game from that point forward.”

Westmont Hilltop coach Arthur McQuillan conceded it was a turning point in the contest.

“We would have liked to have capitalized on those power-play opportunities in the third period,” said McQuillan. “When that didn't happen, I think (Freeport) got some momentum from that, a little more jump.

“They have some quick forwards and they snuck behind us a couple of times,” he added. “Our goaltender saved our bacon.”

Michael Frazetta nearly gave Freeport the win with about 30 seconds remaining in overtime. The standout sophomore picked off a pass in the neutral zone with an open lane to the net, but his shot was just wide.

The Hilltoppers (0-1-2) countered and Timothy Smith fired at the net, but it sailed high as the buzzer sounded.

“Coach Hepler's teams always play well for three periods. They play well together, they play a team game,” said McQuillan. “We knew what we were in for. It's going to go down to the wire when you have two evenly-matched teams.”

Westmont scored just two minutes and 20 seconds into the game, as Adam McQuillan took a pass from Michael Lamison, fired a one-timer and beat Freeport goalie Dom DiGiacobbe top shelf on the pad side.

It took only six minutes for the Yellowjackets to answer.

Westmont goalie Sebastian Ragno initially denied Eric Waddell in front of the net, but Tommy Intrieri was there to clean up the rebound and tie the game at 1-1. Hunter Kepple was credited with an assist for setting up Waddell.

The Hilltoppers recaptured the lead with 2:13 remaining in the first frame.

Ian Campbell sent a bouncing puck toward the net and it found its way through for a 2-1 advantage.

It was the final goal DiGiacobbe allowed in his first action of the season. He finished with 19 saves.

“It's his first game of the year,” said Hepler. “I thought he played a fairly good game.”

Matt Huston started the season opener for Freeport and Katie Hill is also expected to see some action in net.

“We're just going to take it week by week. I haven't named a true starter and I don't know that I will,” said Hepler. “Someone is going to have to take that position. Everybody is going to get a shot.”

The second period went scoreless before Haberstroh tied it in the third. Ragno tallied 21 saves.

Westmont Hilltop was coming off a 4-1 loss to Mars on Wednesday.

“I told the boys coming out for the third period that they played last night. Let's come out hard and stay hard and I think we'll be able to take it to them,” said Hepler. “We just couldn't put one more in the net.”

Freeport finished with a 23-21 shot advantage.

“I thought we played a very disciplined game,” said Hepler. “We came in with a strategy and stuck to it.”

The Yellowjackets will visit two-time defending Penguins Cup champion Quaker Valley at 7:30 p.m. Monday.