Portsmouth’s bid to upset the number two ranked South Kingstown Rebels in the state championship tournament fell short Monday evening at the URI Boss Arena.  Taking a 4-1 loss in Game 3 of the series ended the Patriots first playoff run in three years.

 

Having split the two regular season games, and then having done the same in the first two games of the playoff series, last night’s third game proved once again how closely matched the Patriots and Rebels really were.  It was another well-played game by both squads, which belied the difference expected when a number two seed meets a number seven seed.

 

Both teams had a number of good scoring chances during the first two periods, but it was South Kingstown that built a 2-0 with a goal late in the first period, and another early in the second period on a power play.  The second goal came early enough in the period that any momentum the Rebels might have gained by the tally had long since dissipated by the time the teams headed to the locker room for the second intermission.

 

When the third period began Portsmouth took control of the game keeping most of the play in the offensive zone and outshooting the Rebels.  The hard work paid off six minutes into the period when Matt Faria scored to make it a one goal game.  Matt Alexander assisted on the goal.

 

That goal energized the Patriots and they continued to keep the pressure on the Rebels, but the players were unable to beat the South Kingstown goalie, Brandon Barnes, who once again played an outstanding game.  With the clock becoming a critical factor, South Kingstown took a big step toward putting the game away for good when they scored with 1:51 left in the third period to regain their two goal lead.

 

Portsmouth had one last chance to send the game to overtime when South Kingstown was called for a minor penalty with just over a minute and a half left in the period.  The Patriots pulled their goalie in to make it a six on four power play, but the tactic was unsuccessful.  Portsmouth lost control of the puck in the offensive zone and the Rebels were able to shoot it into the empty net for the shorthanded goal that closed the door on the Patriots’ playoff run.

 

Like the first game in the series, this one was actually a much closer contest than the score reflected.  The Patriots had accounted for themselves well in the game and in the playoffs, especially given the fact that only three players on the team had any playoff experience with Portsmouth.  That was three years ago, when the seniors on the team were freshmen.  In the end, the match-up between the season’s second place Rebels and seventh place Patriots, was the only series in the first round that went three games.  In each of the other three pairings, the higher seeded team swept the best of three series.

 

While they are enjoying the accomplishments of the team this year, the players and coaches are already looking forward to next season.  The team is losing only four seniors, and while they were all major contributors to the squad’s success this year, there are a number of promising players who did not see much ice time this season waiting to step up and take their place.  With the depth the current team has, and now with the experience of a winning season behind it, the 2015-16 campaign could be even more successful that the one just completed.