Division I Semi-finals: Bainbridge vs. Issaquah

Tonight Bainbridge travels to Issaquah, to decide who will go to the state championship playing the winner of the Mercer Island/Curtis match-up at Mercer.  Snow, Nguyen and McDermott will match up against Director, Goldstein and McClain in what could be a shootout, or a defensive war between the two most dynamic teams in Division I.

Issaquah wins the draw, and sets up in a patient open set before rotating to their 1-4.  Bainbridge holds them shotless, and turns possession over to BI.  after two possession shots, and a nice save by Danforth, BI would draw first blood.  From 20 yards out, Sam Snow chalks up the first goal at 8:19.  Snow, holding the ball up top, just rips an overhand bouncer past Danforth, Bainbridge now leads by 1.  Bainbridge outlasts two penalties, two Issaquah EMOs and has so far stifled the Issaquah offense.  Stevenson has kept the easy shots in his stick, getting the ball to Crane on transition, and on a slow transition from the bench, finds Wagner on the corner who hits Snow for a quickstick goal on the crease, and Issaquah trails now, 2-0 with 3:15 remaining in the first.  Issaquah would get on the board causing a rotation early, and exposing a wide open Todd Jones to bury one over Stevenson's shoulder with 1:27 remaining in the first.  BI threatens, the remainder of time, and will keep possession at the start of the quarter.

Two goals called back for crease violations in the second.  Bainbridge finishes a feed to the crease, and has it called back, followed by a daredevil crease dive followed by a finish from the wing for Issaquah, also- in the crease.  at 9:12, both BI and Issaquah are loosening up.  Director steps up shooting for the top corners, missing the last two times, this time he connects top left with a heater on a lefty split. At 8:04 Director ties it up, 2-2.  So far, the patience of both teams has been solid.  Danforth and Stevenson trade nice saves.  Cam Parker dodges and finds an open Kevin Nguyen up top, as he rips the cover off the ball scoring number three for BI at 1:26 in the second quarter.  Bainbridge leads 3-2 in a stadium packed full at Issaquah High School.  Will Nunes makes a timely strip with under 30 seconds to play, and a full field clear nearly results in a goal for Snow, with the horn sounding before the score.  At halftime, Bainbridge leads the Eagles 3-2.

Bainbridge comes out into the second, wins the face-off, but squanders possession.  Stevenson makes another incredible save as Fritz almost bounces a nknee-high finish past him.  Both teams are sloppy on possession.  Both teams working for the usual suspects like two welterweights trading punches in the middle of the ring.  That is until Connor McClean clears a ball and runs down the middle of the field to bounce one past Stevenson, to up the anti at 3 all with 8:32.  So far, all of Issaquah's goals have been unassisted.  A great save by Danforth, turns into a failed clear by Issy and two shots for Bainbridge including a BTB from Ostensen.  Another failed clear results in an EMO opportunity for Bainbridge, their second of the game with 5:13 remaining.  Issaquah kills the Man-up, and will have another opportunity.  Yet another save winds up in Stevenson's stick. Bainbridge has had some great shooting opportunities, and Issaquah puts four more saves in the stats books for Stevenson on an man-up opportunity.  With 26 seconds remaining in the quarter, Todd Jones cuts from behind, ducks and spins for a right handed finish, taking the lead.  He scores his second of the night, and the second unanswered goal for Issaquah, as the momentum shifts in the fourth quarter.

Bainbridge's defense started to show fatigue, allowing shooters inside tight for the Eagles.  Taking advantage of a broken play, and gets the ball in Ostensons hands behind the cage.  He rolls the corner inside and scores to knot the score at 4 apiece.  Issaquah has set up camp for several minutes narrowly missing the cage point blank.  Bainbridge calls a time out at 3:22 setting up a possession. Two shots on the crease, and Issaquah will take over on shot possession with 2:23 remaining in the game.  Bainbridge calls their last time out, and the crowd is on their feet, the noise deafening. With no score at the end of four, BI and Issy go to OVERTIME!

Cobb starts off with possesion in OT, and feeds Parker whose shot is just wide.  Issaquah calls a time out to put the right personnel on the field, takes a loses possession, going to BI, who calls time out.  After two shots McClain steals the ball, it winds up in Kevin Powers' stick and he shoots a slow motion finish, to beat bainbridge on the doorstep, 5-4.

Issaquah will advance to the State Championship playing Mercer Island at 7:30 Saturday at Memorial Stadium

Players of the Game

Bryce Stevenson 20 saves, Bainbridge
Sam Snow 2g, Bainbridge
Todd Jones 2g, Issaquah
Kevin Powers OT game winning goal, Issaquah

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