The Patriots entered the playoffs with a record of 5-7, but they still had a good seed in the playoffs getting ready to play the Sherwood Warriors, a team they had already beat twice this season. Looking ahead, if the Patriots won their game, they would play Walter Johnson in the next round.

On Feb. 3, the Patriots got ready to play the Warriors. Although the team was nervous going into the game, they already beat the Warriors in the first game of the season so they knew they could do it again. In the beginning of the game the Patriots showed that they were nervous, which Sherwood took advantage of by scoring the first goal of the game.

The rest of the first period was slow, with no team able to get anything going, but by the end of the period the Patriots managed to tie the game up with a goal by freshman Justin Heller. In the second period, the Patriots showed their dominance by scoring three unanswered goals. Even though Sherwood answered back with a goal of their own, making the score 4-2, the Patriots quickly responded with a second goal by junior Grady Sellman, making the score 5-2 after the second period. In the third period the Patriots were mostly focused on defense, making sure the Warriors did not get the chance to comeback. It worked, and the Warriors only scored one goal that whole period, while the Patriots also put in one of their own, making the final score 6-3 Patriots. ¨The second period was when we shook our nerves and got momentum in the game because those three goals really helped us feel energized,¨ Sellmen said.

The Patriots were then ready to play Walter Johnson, a team they had already played earlier in the season, but lost to. However, after the last game they were ready. The Patriots got on the board first with a goal by senior Conor Harris, putting the Patriots up one going into the second period. However, the second period was when Walter Johnson took momentum, scoring two goals while the Patriots didn’t score any that period. Now in the last period of the game, both teams were determined to win as WJ put in another goal but the Patriots answered back, making the score 3-2 with seven minutes left. WJ put in another goal putting them up two and another open net goal at the final second of the game, finishing the game 5-2 WJ.¨Walter Johnson was a really good team. Even though we lost I am really proud of the team this season,¨ Harris said.

The Patriots had a strong season even though their record wasn’t what they wanted it to be. They went far in the playoffs which is one of the main goals they had going into their season.