KITTANNING - For two periods the Deer Lakes defense shut down Freeport's most dangerous player.

But the third period belonged to Dustin Gaworski.

With his team trailing 2-0, Gaworski scored four goals and added an assist in a span of less than 12 minutes as the Yellowjackets varsity hockey team beat the Lancers 5-2 on Senior Recognition Night at the Belmont Ice Complex.

Deer Lakes outshot Freeport 23-14 in the first two periods, but the Yellowjackets pelted Lancers goalie Rich Smith with 17 shots in the third.

"I told them (at intermission) to be aggressive and to shoot the darn puck," said Freeport coach Dave Hepler. "We had lost three straight coming into tonight and we didn't want to enter the playoffs on a four-gaming losing streak."

Deer Lakes led 1-0 when Moritz Weissenhorn beat Freeport goalie Tim Zahumensky 46 seconds into the final period for a 2-0 advantage.

Gaworski began his scoring spree two minutes later when his wrist shot from the left of the goal slipped past Smith.

The senior forward tied the game with 8:40 remaining when his shot deflected off a Deer Lakes defenders' skate and into the net.

The Freeport offense, which had been held in check for much of the game, suddenly came to life.

"It was exciting out there with it being Senior Night," said Gaworski. "We came out slow at the beginning of the game, but it ended in a good way."

Gaworski made it a hat trick just 93 seconds later when Kyle Waddell's clearing pass found Beau Zack and the Yellowjackets had a 3-on-1.

Zack took the puck deep into the Deer Lakes end, and, just as he got to the left of the goal, flipped a pass to Gaworski, who tapped in for a 3-2 lead.

Gaworski picked up an assist on a goal by Jason Bubb later in the period before scoring his fourth goal with 17 seconds remaining in the game.

Smith made 26 saves but surrendered five goals on 17 shots in the final period.

Zahumensky totaled 30 stops for the Yellowjackets (13-8-1).

"Our offense wasn't doing much early on," said Hepler. "Tim held us in the game in the first two periods."

Deer Lakes tallied 12 shots in the first period compared to just four for Freeport.

A tripping penalty on the Yellowjackets' Zach Hepler led to a power-play goal by Deer Lakes' Garrett Kurtz, breaking the scoreless tie with 7:16 left in the first period.

Both teams now await their seeding for the PIHL Class A playoffs.

Lancers' coach Terry Marynchak declined to comment following the game.