With powerhouse teams like New Canaan, Darien and Stamford-Westhill-Staples in the FCIAC, along with a much-improved squad such as Wilton/Norwalk in the conference, Greenwich High School’s young, mostly inexperienced girls ice hockey team has faced its share of uphill battles and challenges so far this season.

Yet the Cardinals have, as coach Doug Jebb said, “persevered” against their more experienced opponents.

Greenwich played against Stamford-Westhill-Staples Saturday night at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink and the combined visiting team, which entered the game with only one conference loss and an overall record of 10-3, continued its standout season.

Maggie Lyden recorded a hat trick and Liz Toussaint-Brown scored two goals to propel Stamford-Westhill-Staples past Greenwich, 7-2, in an FCIAC matchup. Coached by Steve Falcone, Stamford-Westhill-Staples has a record of 6-1 in the FCIAC and is 11-3 overall.

The Cardinals are 2-8-1 overall and are 1-5-1 in the FCIAC. This has been a learning and building season for the Cardinals, whose roster includes seven freshmen, seven sophomores, five juniors and four seniors.

“We didn’t quit, they are a resilient bunch of girls,” Jebb said of his Cardinals squad. “Things haven’t really gone our way this season, but they are resilient. We’re a young team, we’re freshman and sophomore heavy. The seniors are doing the best they can.”

Greenwich was outshot, 16-4, by Stamford-Westhill-Staples during the first quarter, as the visitors took a 3-1 lead. Sophomore goalie Sophia DiPietro, who is experiencing her first season in net and is new to the sport, made 13 first-period saves for the Cardinals.

Lyden, a freshman, scored the game’s first goal with 10:27 remaining in the opening period. At the 9:33 mark of the first period, Lyden struck again, tallying off assists from sophomore Ella Pearl and senior Maya Sherman.

One of the bright moments for the Cards came with 9:01 left in the first period, courtesy of junior tri-captain Aubrey Roth.

Roth snapped an impressive shot from the left faceoff circle past Stamford-Westhill-Staples sophomore goalie Marley Converse, bringing Greenwich to within 2-1.

DiPietro made three solid saves, keeping the score 2-1 until Stamford-Westhill-Staples tallied with 5:14 to go in the first period. This time, hard-skating sophomore Avery Askew broke loose and found herself in a 1-v.-1 with DiPietro. Positioned between the circles, Askew directed the puck past Greenwich’s goalie, putting the visitors on top, 3-1. DiPietro made 13 saves in the opening period.

Continuing to apply pressure on the Cardinals in the second period, Stamford-Westhill-Staples increased its advantage to 6-1. Pearle scored at the 10:51 mark of the second period, Toussaint-Brown tallied with 8:35 remaining and sophomore Anne Leydon added a second-period goal off assists from Askew and Sherman with 6:03 left in the period.

The visitors held a 16-7 shots-on-goal advantage in the second period on their way to taking a six-goal lead. Several of Stamford-Westhill-Staples’ goals came off tip-ins and rebounds in front of the net. Lyden completed her hat trick by scoring with 6:03 to go in the second frame.

“They have been playing really well, they’re a very good team and we have nothing to be ashamed of,” Jebb said.

The third period saw Greenwich get another goal from Roth. Senior tri-captain Lindsay Allen assisted on the Cardinals’ second goal, which made the score 7-2.

Greenwich outshot its foe, 12-8, in the third period, with Roth and freshman Eleanor Fine keeping the pressure on. For the game, DiPietro registered 33 saves for the Cards, who are playing New Canaan tonight at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink.

Converse stopped 21 shots for the victors.

“They stuck it out, it was 1-zip in the third period, which I’m proud of and we persevered,” Jebb said of his GHS squad.

Greenwich plays Darien On Feb. 3 and Woodstock Academy on Feb. 5.