The Yarmouth Mariners hung around but couldn’t find the equalizer in Game 3 against Summerside.

The Western Capitals took a 2-1 lead in their first round series with a 4-1 victory in front of over 1,400 fans at the Mariners Centre Friday night.

Paul Hughes and Jonah MacDonald each had a goal and an assist for the Caps and were named first and second star respectively.

Mariners goalie Thomas Fontaine got third star honours with 47 saves.

Summerside opened the scoring in the first period with a quick powerplay goal from William Irvine.

The Mariners’ Nathan Mossey tied it up in the second with a shot from the point, but the Caps grabbed the lead back on Hughes’ goal.

It wasn’t until late in the third when MacDonald got an insurance goal and followed by an empty netter from Trentyn Crane.

It was a penalty filled affair with lots of hits and post-whistle scrums, the Caps went 1-for-4 on the man advantage, and the Mariners were 0-for-5.

Mariners Head Coach and GM Laurie Barron says two very good teams went at it in Game 3.

“That was the best of junior hockey, and we were right there. It was so close. We need to get them to face some adversity. We’re not supposed to be in this series. We need to win tomorrow and make it a two-out-of-three,” said Barron.

He notes you can’t make mistakes against Summerside.

“The puck possession game, they possessed it more than we did. They move it well, and if you make a mistake, it finds the back of the net. We made a couple more mistakes than they did.”

The Mariners got 20-year-olds Tyler Lee and Michael Marquez back in the line-up for the game.

Game 4 goes Saturday night in Yarmouth, Game 5 will be played in Summerside on Tuesday.