Sophomore Bussiere shines in net for Oyster River/Portsmouth in state championship loss

MANCHESTER – Sometimes history repeats itself. Sometimes it’s not even close.

Just 16 days before Saturday’s Division I girls hockey state championship, Hanover dismantled Oyster River/Portsmouth, 10-1 in the regular-season finale for the ClipperCats.

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

So, outside observers could be forgiven if expectations were low going into Saturday's meeting between the two programs.

Inside the Oyster River/Portsmouth locker room expectations were anything but low, especially after Mallory DeSantis' second-period goal gave the ClipperCats a 1-0 lead.

A lead that stood until the final minutes when second-seeded Hanover scored the equalizer with 5:39 left, and the game-winner with just 46.4 seconds on the clock, ultimately skating off with a 2-1 win at Southern New Hampshire University Arena.

The ClipperCats justified their confidence they could compete with Hanover, thanks in large part to sophomore goalie Sage Bussiere, who stopped 20 of 22 shots.

Though Bussiere looked like a seasoned veteran in the championship, that 10-1 loss 16 days prior was her first start as a hockey goalie. And Saturday’s championship game was Bussiere's fourth start in goal since filling in for starter Prudence Bellmare who was lost for the season with mono.

“I don’t think most people would have known that was our backup goalie," said Oyster River/Portsmouth head coach Jamie Long. "This team put 10 (goals) on her two weeks ago. Same exact teams. We just didn’t play well that day, and today I thought our girls played very well.”

The only difference was the level of confidence that Bussiere, a goalie for the Oyster River lacrosse team, and her teammates brought to the ice Saturday. Bussier really shined in the final frame, when Hanover outshot the ClipperCats, 11-1.

“I think we definitely knew that our game last time we played them wasn’t us,” Bussiere said. “We knew we could compete with them. I think a lot of people were doubting our ability to play with them after that loss, but we made it here. I think we proved those people wrong.”

Long called Bussiere a hard-working, good athlete.

"They always say if you don’t know who to put in goal, put in a good athlete," Long said. (With her lacrosse background) it made sense.”

With an inexperienced goalie in net, and realigned defense, many outsiders doubted the ClipperCats. Long was fed up with the doubters and said he was proud, but not at all surprised, to see his team take Hanover to the wire.

“I’m tired of this (talk) with people saying we aren’t supposed to be here,” Long said. “They proved they deserve to be here. The way they came out against Pinkerton, and the way they stood toe-to-toe with the best team in the state today (shows that). This was the two best teams going at it, as far as I’m concerned. (Hanover) chipped in one more than we did. I’m proud of how these girls played.”

Bussiere said she wasn’t nervous going into Saturday's game despite allowing 10 goals to Hanover the last time. She had more experience than she had in late February, and she trusted the defense in front of her, which made life difficult for the high-flying Hanover offense all game.

“I just focused on stopping what I could,” she said. “I’ve obviously had a lot of practice the last couple weeks. I’ve been trying to get better. I also knew I could trust my defense, and that lets me not try to do too much and make mistakes.”

Long pointed out that when he pulled Bussiere from her defensive pairing to play goal, he also shifted the team's top scorer Kira Jakobs to defense.

“People probably thought I was crazy, but (Jakobs) skates as well as anyone in the league," Long said. "You never see her get knocked down. She might not have liked it, but she never complained and she played great back there.”

That 10-1 loss to Hanover in February was also Jakobs’ first game transitioning roles, and like Bussiere behind her, her presence on Saturday was a difference maker for the ClipperCats.

It is hard to think about growth after an emotional championship game loss, but Oyster River/Portsmouth graduates just one senior, and if the growth it showed in that two-week span is any indication, the ClipperCats could find themselves back at SNHU Arena next March, making their third straight championship game appearance.

When one of his players said they want to forget the game, Long suggested a different approach.

“I told them, ‘I want you to remember this game," he 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 what (Hanover feels now) next time.’”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Goalie Bussiere shines for Oyster River Portsmouth in state title loss