Issaquah Notes:
Issaquah 3-2-3-2- 10
Mercer 0-6-2-3- 11

From a general lacrosse fan's perspective this had to be a great game to watch, filled with several momentum swings and multiple unanswered runs from both teams. For Issaquah it will be a tough one to swallow as they sat on the brink of a repeat appearance in the State Championships. Hats off to Mercer though as they kept composure multiple times and found a way to pull it out.

Issaquah came out prepared. Mikey Giannopulos controlled the faceoffs and Issaquah was patient and methodical on offense, slowly building a 3-0 lead. Mercer was slow to slide all night long and solo efforts from Egland, Giannopulos and Lindahl had the Issaquah crowd buzzing.

No panic in the Islanders as they made adjustments on the faceoffs, won a few balls and rattled off 5 unanswered goals of their own to take a two goal lead with 5 minutes to play in the half. Issaquah's turn. Back to back goals from Lindahl completed a 1st half hat-trick and tied the game at 5. Issaquah had the ball with under a minute to play and chance to take the lead but was issued a stall call and coughed the ball up outside the box. Mercer took advantage and pushed in transition to take a 6-5 halftime lead.

Teams traded goals in the 3rd as Jake Gonzalez got hot for Issaquah ripping two screamers from outside. Issaquah again had the ball with under a minute left and this time Giannopulos finished with 8 seconds left to give Issaquah the lead back for the first time since 3-2 early in the 2nd quarter.

Mercer would knot it up again midway through the 4th but Issaquah had answer. Jake Lindahl again, his 4th of the night! Under a minute later, with Mercer pressing out, Ryan Egland beat a defender below GLE and found Anthony O'Reilly all alone on the crease. 10-8 Issaquah with just over 4 minutes to play and Issaquah could taste victory, especially after getting possession again.

However, at the 3 minute mark, Issaquah chose to shoot rather than milk the clock. Mercer's Tillinger made the save and gave Mercer the opportunity it needed to get back in it. Issaquah got an initial stop but failed to clear and Mercer went to work. Goal, faceoff win, goal, faceoff win, goal. In the span of under 2 minutes the Islanders scored 3 unanswered and it all came unraveled for Issaquah. Issaquah won the last faceoff and called timeout with 46 seconds left and one last shot to tie it up. Tillinger was again equal to the task with the final save. Mercer cleared and ran away back into the state finals.