wrapped up its regular season with its 18th boys high school lacrosse win, dropping Skyline 8 – 5, Friday at Skyline High School in Sammamish. The win kept the Islanders atop the Northeast Conference going into the state tournament.
In a closely contested game between the eastside rivals, Mercer Island took the early 2 -1 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second, the two traded single goals with the Islanders holding a 3 – 2 lead at the intermission. After again matching each other with 2 goals apiece in the third, Mercer Island broke away for a 3-goal fourth quarter to seal with win.
Matt Shields, Colton Knebel and Alex Robbs all had 2 goals for the Islanders. For the Spartans, Ryan Benz had 2 goals.
Mercer Island finishes its season 18-2-0. The Islanders only two losses came out of state powerhouses, Oregon Episcopal School and Concord-Carlisle in Massachusetts. Skyline finished its season with an 11-9-0 record.
Thanks to the Islanders' top-finish in the Boys Division 1 standings, they get a bye to the State Tournament quarterfinals. Mercer Island will face either Kings Way or Lake Washington at 7 p.m., May 20 at .
SCORING HIGHLIGHTS: Mercer Island 8, Skyline 5 (Matt Shield, MI, 2 goals, Colton Knebel, MI, 2 goals; Alex Robbs, MI, 2 goals; Doug Mahony, MI, 1 goals; Zach Stickney, MI, 1 goal; Tucker Vassau, MI, 3 saves; Brian Bernstein, MI, 3 saves; Ryan Benz, S, 2 goals, 1 ground ball; Andrew Hankey, S, 1 goal, 2 assists; Jack Pruitt, S, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 ground balls; Max Saffle, S, 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 ground ball; Cory Larson, S, 17 saves)
State Tournament Schedule
Boys Division I
Bracket: http://www.sportability.com/spx/Leagues/Playoffs.asp?LgID=26603
Tuesday, May 17 -- Opening Round (winners advance to quarterfinals)
Eastlake at Tacoma (Mt. Tahoma Stadium / 7:00 p.m.)
BYE: Mercer Island, Bainbridge, Curtis, Issaquah
Wednesday, May 18 -- Opening Round (winners advance to quarterfinals)
Lake Tapps at Bellevue (Bellevue HS / 7:00 p.m.)
Tahoma at Eastside Catholic (Eastside Catholic School / 7:00 p.m.)
King's Way at Lake Washington (location / time TBD)
