MI Boys Lacrosse Takes Down Bellevue 9-5 in State Semi-Final

Wednesday night Mercer Island avenged last year's emotional one-point overtime loss to Bellevue in the State championship game, with  a win that takes the Wolverines out of the running and puts the Islanders in another state championship game. A playoff matchup between MI and Bellevue has been anticipated since the now infamous "stick check" before overtime in the 2010 title game. The Islander stick penalty put them a man down going into overtime, where Bellevue took advantage and scored first to secure a sudden death victory.

Posters at Mercer Island High School referred to the match up as a blood war and tension was high among parents and fans at Islander Stadium. One spectator pointed out there was extra security at the stadium Wednesday night, 3 Mercer Island Police officers in addition to MIHS's own Kelly John-Lewis and Principal John Harrison.

Islander head coach, Ian O'Hearn, said his team felt confident they could win,"but we were not going to take Bellevue lightly, they're a very good team." 

While it looked like the game was in Islander hands early on with a 4-1 MI lead late in the 2nd quarter, the Wolverines kept nipping at MI's heels. The half-time score of 4-2 (MI) went to 5-2 (MI) early in the 3rd quarter, but Bellevue fought back hard making it 5-4 (MI) near the end of the 3rd quarter--also reminiscent of last year's championship game.

It was the emotional 4th quarter where the Islanders started pulling away, where penalty calls and man-downs for both sides dominated the final minutes. The individual efforts of Matt Shields, Doug Mahoney and Alex Robbs, who each added a goal in the last quarter, widened the gap to bring the final tally to 9-5 Mercer Island.

Six different Islanders found the net, Connor Bernal leading with 4 goals, with Colton Knebel, Grant Preissler, Alex Robbs, Doug Mahoney and Matt Sheilds each contributing one goal each. Mahoney and T. Claes Johnson each had 2 assists, and Alex Robbs added another. Islander goalie Brian Bernstein had 7 saves.

For Bellevue Drew Douglas led with 3 goals, and Cole Johnson and Thomas Spengler had one each. Wolverine goalie Austin Boyd had 11 saves.

Looking forward to Saturday's championship game, O'Hearn was surprised that Bainbridge Island had such a decisive win over Issaquah. But he noted that Bainbridge has regrouped and pulled things together since the Islanders played them earlier in the season, when MI trounced Bainbridge 18-3. O'Hearn said MI will not be taking Bainbridge for granted in the State final.

The Islanders will be seeking their 5th State Championship this Saturday, hungry for the Title which has eluded them since 2006 despite 5 championship game appearances and 3 Semi-Final finishes. In league play, the Islanders were undefeated, once again. Bellevue lost league games to Mercer Island (6-8) and Issaquah (2-6), and also dropped a game to Bainbridge (6-7). 

The Islanders take on Bainbridge Island for the State Division I Lacrosse Title Saturday May 28, 7pm, at Seattle's Memorial Stadium.