Similar to its first two rounds in the Division II playoffs, Portsmouth opened its best of three, Division II State Championship Finals series with a loss, this time to North Smithfield.  In the game Thursday evening at Brown University’s Meehan Auditorium, the Patriots came out on the short end of the 4-1 final score.

North Smithfield was not overpowering in the game, but rather the team simply played better, more effective hockey than the Patriots.  Couple that with what appeared to be some disorganization in Portsmouth’s in team effort and the setting for the loss was in place.  The Patriots’ offense was stymied most of the game by the Northmen who held the Patriots to just 16 shots in the contest.  Skating in their own end of the ice, Portsmouth had difficulties both in dealing with North Smithfield’s offense, and in moving the puck out of their own zone.  As a result, goalie Matt Nordhill ended up facing 30 shots by the Northmen.

Portsmouth fell behind early when its opponent scored at 3:01 in the first period.  Before the contest reached the ten minute mark of the opening session, the Northmen had added two more goals, one of which came on a power play, to take a decisive 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

Ben O’Hearn got one back late in the second period, when he intercepted a North Smithfield pass in the offensive zone and snapped off a wrist shot from the slot that cleanly beat the Northmen net minder.  His unassisted goal pulled the Patriots back into contention only two behind the Northmen.  O’Hearn’s tally lifted his team and it capitalized on the boost with a few good scoring opportunities over the next two minutes, but came away with nothing to show on the scoreboard for the effort.  In the end, the momentum was short lived as North Smithfield soon regained its composure and once again began to frustrate the Patriots’ efforts.

The tenor of the game remained much the same after the teams returned from the dressing rooms and began the third period.  With the continued difficulties the Patriots were having generating any serious offense, the Northmen put the game out of reach for good with a power play goal mid-period, to make the score 4-1.

The Patriots have been in this situation before, having fallen behind in both its quarterfinal series with South Kingstown, and in the semi-finals with RMR.  In each case the team fought back and won both elimination games to move on to the next round.  The squad will need to do the same thing once again, if it is to find its way to the championship.

Game 2 will be played tomorrow, Saturday, March 26 at 6:00 pm.  Once again the contest will be held at Brown University’s Meehan Auditorium.  Please note the new starting time for the event is 6:00 pm, an hour earlier than previously scheduled.  If the Patriots prevail, there will be a third game on Monday to decide the D-II Champion.  If they lose tomorrow, their season will end with them as the championship runner-up.

Make the trip to Providence and root for Portsmouth to even the series.  See you at the rink.