KITTANNING — Whether it was by backhand or breakaway, shorthanded or on a power play, off a carom or a crisp pass, the Freeport hockey team found a way to score — a lot.

The Yellowjackets wasted little time asserting themselves in the first round of the PIHL Class A playoffs against Richland at the Belmont Complex Monday night, scoring four goals in the first period and cruising to an 8-2 win.

"We came out and played pretty sharp," said Freeport coach Dave Hepler. "That helped us get off to a good start. We dominated."

Neil DeCroo recorded a hat trick for the Yellowjackets and Shane Gallagher had two goals and three assists for a five-point night.

Gallagher scored his two goals two minutes apart late in the first period to turn a 2-0 game into a 4-0 lead and the makings of a rout.

Gallagher's first goal was shorthanded and it came 42 seconds into the Richland power play.

"We focused on just going in there and getting as many shots as we could," Gallagher said. "Last time, it was a 4-2 game and it was really close. We were a little nervous about this game."

Those nerves didn't last very long.

After Freeport (14-7-2) gave up a goal to Richland's Joey Patula four minutes into the second period, it quickly scored 12 seconds into a power play opportunity and then added two more goals in the period to take a 7-1 lead.

DeCroo put the finishing touches on his three-goal night 34 seconds into the third period off an assist by Gallagher to set the mercy clock in motion.

Just about everyone on the roster had a stick in the victory.

Jeremy Gent scored the second goal of the game, John Reichenbaugh scored two goals and Jeremy Hepler picked up four points on assists alone.

"It makes it easier knowing you have a supporting cast around you," Gallagher said. "We've really bought into that team concept this year."

That's because Freeport is a team without a blue-chip star. Gallagher leads the team in points with 35. But there are four others on the team with 20-plus points.

That was in stark contrast toRichland (6-17), which came into the game with one player, Chad Frits, scoring nearly 50 percent of its goals.

The Yellowjackets were able to keep him under control. Fritz, who came into the game with 38 goals and 47 points in 21 games, did score a meaningless goal late.

"He's their guy," Hepler said. "We knew it and everyone knew it. We were just going to make it difficult for him to get it out."

It also was a difficult ordeal for Richland goalie Brandon Lamm, who faced shot after shot all night.

Freeport peppered him with 47 shots. Lamm's teammates didn't help much, either, with lazy clearing passes that were easily intercepted by Yellowjackets skaters in front of the net.

For Freeport, it was a good first step. The Yellowjackets will take on Bishop McCort (15-7) at the War Memorial inJohnstown Wednesday night.

Last year, the Yellowjackets advanced to the Penguins Cup and won it before losing to West Chester Henderson 4-1 in the Pennsylvania Cup.

Freeport badly wanted to defend its title.

"We would love to get back," Gallagher said. "But we're not going to get ahead of ourselves."