Portsmouth defeated the Narragansett-Chariho Gulls 2-1 in an early Sunday evening playoff semifinal game at Schneider Arena.  The victory earned the top seeded Patriots a berth in the Championship Final game next Saturday.

A pair of defensemen provided all the scoring for Portsmouth in the game.  Finn O’Connor scored in the first period with a shot from high in the slot that found itw way through traffic in front of the net and across the Nariho goal line.  He was assisted by Steve Madden who, in the third period, scored the game winner with an unassisted tally from high in the left faceoff circle.

Portsmouth goalie, Steve Dutra, had an outstanding game in the crease allowing just one goal on 27 shots by the Gulls.

The Patriots now advance to the championship game next Saturday, March 18, at 1:00 PM, again at Schneider Arena.  The team will face off in a single elimination game with its cross-island rival, the RMT Hurricanes.  RMT earned its spot to play for the title by defeating Ponaganset 2-1 in a later game Sunday evening. 

The Division II finals will be an All-Aquidneck Island affair, with the top two squads from the regular season playing to decide this year’s champion.  The Patriots and Hurricanes played only one game together during the regular season.  That contest ended in a 1-1 tie.  That won’t happen this time - there are no ties in the playoffs.

This is the game everyone has been anticipating.  Don’t miss it.  Make the trip to Providence College and root for Portsmouth to bring home the championship.

See you at rink.