Heartbreak Finish: Hanover scores game-winner in final minute of girls hockey title game

MANCHESTER - Five minutes away.

The Oyster River/Portsmouth High School girls hockey team led Hanover, 1-0 late in the third period of Saturday's Division I state championship at Southern New Hampshire University Arena.

But in those final five minutes away from glory, and the program's first state championship, Hanover showed why it has reigned supreme over the last decade.

The Bears struck for the equalizer with 5:39 minutes left off the stick of junior Faith Lindsay, and Nora Bradley scored the game-winning goal with 46.4 seconds left, defeating No. 4 Oyster River/Portsmouth, 2-1.

"I thought we had it up until the last couple of minutes of the third period," said Mallory DeSantis, who gave the ClipperCats a 1-0 lead in the second period. "We had played Hanover a couple of weeks ago, and we lost 10-1. I think (Hanover) thought it was going to be an easy win. When we got that lead on them, they were all shocked and nervous."

DeSantis admitted the team got a little nervous when the Bears tied the game, but continued by saying the team played a full 45 minutes and left their hearts on the ice.

"Hanover just ended up getting those two goals," DeSantis said. "I think we tried our best, and I think it was pretty much an evenly-matched game. It was just those little opportunities that Hanover got to before us."

Attempting to hang on to the slim, 1-0 lead, Long said the message was 'don't change, don't change, don't change, and get the pucks in deep.'

"But, (Hanover) started putting more pressure on, and they got two goals in (five) minutes," said Long, who pulled sophomore goalie Sage Bussiere after the second goal for an extra skater.

Bussiere, in her just fourth start in goal, finished 20 saves, many from point-blank range.

"I knew when we scored that was a big thing," Bussiere said. "I was like 'OK, we're in this, we've got this.' I was like 'I need to do my job so they can do theirs.' I think I did that pretty well. Fell short, but it's OK."

It's the second straight season the ClipperCats lost in the state championship game, suffering a 3-2 loss to Bishop Guertin last year.

DeSantis said regardless of the season-ending loss, the ClipperCats came into Saturday's game knowing they could compete - and they certainly went toe-to-toe with the state's best.

"We made it here, and I think a lot of people were doubting our ability to play against them, especially after that (10-1) loss," DeSantis said. "I think we really were able to prove them wrong."

Saturday's 2-1 score was the closest game Hanover played all season against a New Hampshire high school hockey team.

"These girls put in the work," Long said. "We play by the rules, simple as that and these girls shows they deserved to be here. How they came out against Pinkerton, and how they went toe-to-toe with the best team in the state (proves that)."

DeSantis gets ClipperCats ahead in second period

After a scoreless first period, DeSantis, on an assist from Eliza Farwell, gave the ClipperCats a 1-0 lead with just over 5 minutes left in the second, confirming the belief that Oyster River/Portsmouth deserved to be in the state championship.

"I was really excited when I got that goal," DeSantis said. "We're beating Hanover (at the time), that's awesome ... (Eliza) is really great at recognizing situations, and when to take the puck and when to pass. That just worked out really well with screening the net, and I ended up getting that goal."

DeSantis also scored in Oyster River's semifinal win over Pinkerton.

"(DeSantis) saved her best hockey for the end of the season," Long said. "She always hustles, and works hard, but she really picked up her game in the playoffs. I don't know how to say it, some people just realize it's playoff time and can move it up a notch, and she did. And that's a credit to her ... they all did it."

'I want you to remember this game'

Long said some players were saying 'let's forget this game,' in the post-game locker room.

"I said 'I want you to remember this game'," Long said. "First of all, you played really well. Secondly, if we're fortunate enough to get back here next year, I want you to remember how this feels, so we can maybe feel the way (Hanover) feels now. It takes a lot of hard work to get here, and these girls put the work in."

DeSantis said the team is definitely going to remember the feeling of leading late in the third period, and then coming up short.

"I feel like we'll remember that disappointment, and really take that in our hearts," DeSantis said. "That will show us what we have to work on, get better at it and beat them next year."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Oyster River Portsmouth girls hockey falls to Hanover in title game