Spaulding ice hockey coach Paul George had to admit he thought this was the year.

The Bow Falcons, having never reached the Division II title game in the school’s 10-year history, led George’s Red Raiders, 4-2, with five minutes remaining in the semifinal matchup on Tuesday, March 4, at the Rinks of Exeter.

But consecutive Falcons’ penalties gave the two-time defending state champs a two-man advantage, and they capitalized, scoring once with 4:51 left in the game and again, while still on the power play, exactly one minute later.

In the extra frame, the two squads traded chances until Bow gained a power play. Opportunity after opportunity hit the post, sailed just right or just left, or was knocked from the crease by Spaulding goalie Justin Lavertue.

Even after the power play ended, Bow maintained control – until Spaulding broke away on a 2-on-1 sprint down the ice. A sleek pass from Jamie Ferullo found its mark, and Nick French redirected the puck just past Bow’s anticipating goalie, Colin Evans.

The result was a 5-4 loss for the locals, which reached the state semis for the fifth straight year.

“All I can tell you is that (Bow) is going to get there, and I had a feeling it was going to be tonight,” said George. “That’s not a team you want to face anywhere, at anytime.”

Bow coach Tim Walsh, however, had trouble looking past what had just happened on the ice.

“I think this is the tops (in terms of) frustration. Our kids scored four goals against this team, and we haven’t done that it years,” said Walsh. “I mean, to play the way we did and not come away with the win … That’s the hardest part, knowing that the kids gave everything they had, and did everything we asked them to do, every single thing.”

The Falcons had already proved they could win a tight postseason game.

After ceding a 3-1 third-period advantage to Goffstown in the quarterfinals three nights earlier, the Falcons responded in overtime when sophomore Luke Enderwick knocked in a loose puck to keep the season alive. Walsh said he thought that victory gave his squad a slight mental advantage in the extra frame against Spaulding.

“Even in the five-on-five in overtime, I thought we outplayed them,” he said. “We just couldn’t finish.”

Most impressive, said Walsh, was the play of forward Brett Borbidge.

The senior captain contributed on all four Bow goals. He lit the lamp twice in the first period, the first on an assist from fellow senior Andrew Hunter and the second on a Peter Forsberg-like wraparound that dumbfounded Spaulding defenders.

Hunter and Zy Noury set up the play. In the second period, Borbidge drew Lavertue’s attention, then sent a last-second crossing pass through the crease and connected with freshman Edward Burke, who tallied Bow’s third goal. He also provided the helper on Enderwick’s third-period notch.

“(Brett) played his best game of the season each of the last five games,” said Walsh.

While Bow loses Borbidge and four other contributors, George said he foresees a smooth transition from Borbidge to Greg Bueddeman in terms of scoring. The Spaulding coach added the Falcons have plenty of talent – including freshmen forwards Tyler Estee, Bruce Lacasse and Burke, as well as sophomore netminder Evans – surrounding Bueddeman.

“That team is built to last. They have a lot of young kids doing a lot of good things,” said George. “That’s my preseason favorite for next year. In fact, that may be the team to beat for the next couple years.”