The Patriots came out on the short end of their opening game in the Division -II State Championship Semi-final Series Friday night.  Portsmouth faced off at the URI Boss Arena against the Prout Crusaders who have home ice advantage for the series.  During the regular season, the Crusaders finished atop the seven team in D-II South subdivision.  The Patriots, who finished in third place in D-II South, won two of the three games the teams played together this season.  The two teams were fairly evenly matched and all three of their regular season match-ups had been hard played decisions.

Portsmouth got off to a fast start in the game when Chris Oliveira scored just 17 seconds after the opening faceoff with the first shot of the contest .  Andrew Finnegan and Nick Martens earned the assists as the Patriots took the early 1-0 lead.  When Oliveira added his second goal of the game at the 8:00 minute mark, things seemed to be going the Patriot’s way.  But it didn’t last.  With a little over a minute left in the period the Crusaders got the puck into the Patriots’ net twice in the span of nine seconds to tie the score at 2-2.

As in the first period, the second got off to a good start for Portsmouth.  At 1:18 Pat Spero, assisted by Myles Arkins and Kyle Alvanas,  put the Patriots back in the lead.  The advantage was short lived, though, as the Crusaders evened the score once again, just 36 seconds later.  Then the game took a turn for the worse for the Patriots.  Before the period ended  Prout rang up three more goals, two of them shorthanded,  to grab a commanding 6-3 lead as the teams headed to the dressing rooms for the second intermission. 

The Patriots got back to within two when Oliveira notched his third goal of the game at 13:09 of the third period.  Matthew Harrigan was awarded the assist on the goal that completed the Hat Trick for Oliveira.  Late in the period, Prout roared back with three more goals that made the score 9-4 and put the game out of reach for the Patriots.  Defenseman Dallas Wynegar added Portsmouth’s final goal at 12:27; an unassisted shorthanded effort, that left the final score at 9-5.

Portsmouth had six power play chances in the game but was unable to capitalize on the man advantage.  Not only were the Patriots unable to score when Prout had a player in the penalty box, but the Crusaders were able to generate a number of scoring chances, two of which resulted in shorthanded goals.  The Patriots skated at less than full strength only once in the game, late in the third period. The squad not only killed the penalty successfully, but racked up a shorthanded tally of its own.

Prout outshot the Portsmouth 38-27.  Matt Maggiacomo in goal for the Patriots had 29 saves.

Game 2 of the series will be played at the Abbey tonight at 7:30.  The season is on the line for the Patriots who are in a must-win situation to force a Game 3. You won’t find a better high school hockey game to watch.  Get to the Abbey and support the Patriots as they try to even the series and stay alive in the playoffs.  See you at the game.