The Patriots’ season came to an end Monday night with a 3-0 loss to the Ponaganset Chieftains in Game 3 of the D-II Playoff Quarterfinals at the Levy Community Ice Center.  The deciding game of the best of three series had been set up after Portsmouth won the first game of the set last Thursday then took a disappointing double overtime loss the following night in Game 2.

Things looked good for Portsmouth at the start of the game.  The team followed the opening faceoff with flurry of three shots and it looked like the Chieftains were caught back on their heels.  The effort was short lived though.  Ponaganset soon steadied itself and slowly began out-play the Patriots.  The shift in momentum  in favor of the Chieftains was complete at mid-period when Ponaganset  capitalized on a Portsmouth penalty to score the first goal of the game.  The power play tally set the Patriots behind 1-0, but even more so, the team continued to struggle the rest of the period.  Mistakes in their own zone cost the Patriots another goal before the period ended, as Ponaganset scored at even strength to make it a 2-0 game.  By the time the buzzer ended the session, Portsmouth had been outshot Portsmouth 13 -8.

The squad used the first intermission to, settle down, and plan its adjustments for the second period.  Over the next fifteen minutes of game time, it became apparent the break was just what Portsmouth needed to collect itself for a come-back.  As one-sided as the first period had been with the Patriots largely scrambling on defense, the second period was the mirror opposite.  The team dominated the play throughout the period, outshooting the Chieftains 15-6.  It was clear the Patriots were back in the game, but one problem remained, they were still behind 2-0 at the end of the period.  Even with four power play opportunities in the session, the team was unable to solve Ponaganset’s goalie, Curtis Briggs.  There was no doubt that Portsmouth was still in the game when the teams headed to the dressing rooms for the second intermission, but the challenge to catch up in the final fifteen minutes of the game was great.

Although the team was not as dominating in the third period as it was in the second, Portsmouth had a clear edge through most of the final session.  The Patriots played more than well enough to climb back into contention, were it not for Briggs standing in their way.  The squad launched fourteen more shots at the Chieftains’ net in the third period, including a number of good scoring chances, but nothing got past Ponaganset’s goaltender.  Portsmouth’s frustrating efforts ended with its opponent adding and empty net goal with nineteen seconds remaining in the game, to run the final score to 3-0

For his part, Patriots goalie Matt Nordhill kept his team in the contest and gave his squad a chance to win the entire night.  Were it not for his outstanding play the Chieftains might easily have added another goal or two during Portsmouth’s chaotic first period.  After Ponaganset’s second goal, he blanked his opponent for the next thirty-four minutes, turning back nineteen shots.  Nordhill finished the game with twenty-five saves.

The loss eliminated Portsmouth from this year’s D-II State Championship playoffs.  Ponaganset advances to face the number two seed in the division, the Barrington Eagles, in the semi-finals which begin next weekend.