Portsmouth defeated the North Smithfield Northmen 4-3 Saturday evening at the Rhode Island Sports Center / Route 146 Rink.  The win completed a sweep of the best of three quarterfinal series against the Northmen and advanced the Patriots to the semifinal round of the playoffs.

After falling behind 2-0 Portsmouth scored two goals in the final two minutes of the second period to tie the game as it headed into the second intermission.  Hayden Krzych struck first, assisted by Andrew Alvanas and Logan West.  Shane Temple followed with assists by Alvanas and Joey Levreault.

The Patriots carried the momentum through the intermission and back to the ice for the third period.  Three and a half minutes into the final regulation period, Temple rang up his second goal of the night to give Portsmouth the lead for the first time in the game.  Ben West picked up the assist on the goal.

With the clock winding down in regulation time, Levreault stole the puck from a North Smithfield player low in the Northmen’s zone.  He skated in on a breakaway and beat the goalie to put the Patriots up by two goals.  And it turned out his tally was needed.  With seven seconds left in the third period, the Northmen netted their third goal of the game, making Levreault’s tally the game winner.

The Patriots were outshot 30-22 in the contest.  Steve Dutra had another fine night between the pipes for Portsmouth racking up 27 saves to earn his third win of the playoffs.

Portsmouth now advances to the Division II semifinal round of the championship tournament.  That game will be played next Sunday, March 12, at 5:00pm at the Providence College Schneider Arena.  The Patriots will face off with the Narragansett-CHARIHO Co-op Gulls.  New this year, the playoff format has changed.  Previously played as best of three series, the semifinal and championship rounds are now single elimination games.  The winner next Sunday will advance to the championship game scheduled to be played on Saturday, March 18.

Get to Providence College next Sunday for the game.  Root for the Patriots and cheer them into the championship game.

See you at the rink.