THE Island Battle: Mercer and Bainbridge in the Biggest Rivalry on the West Coast

For 17 years, Bainbridge Island's Lacrosse program has had an opposite in Lacrosse; an image of themselves borne from a different Island, Mercer Island.  For 17 years, these two teams have battled each other, a history as steeped in rivalry heated at times passionate always.  The Island battle has meant facing each other in state championchip games, 5 times since 2001.  Until last year, when Bainbridge lost to Issaquah in the state championship, either Bainbridge or Mercer Island have won the state championship since 1994.  in 2007, US Lacrosse recognized the "Island Battle", something everyone here recognizes, as the biggest rivalry on the West Coast.  Tonight we will witness the intensity along with more than 1,000 people to see which one of these two undefeated titans, will remain undefeated.

Mercer Island wastes no time on first possession, shooting several times before Stevenson sends it the other way.
After making three saves and a stuff, Snow buries a bouncer past Giraud.  On the next possession, Cobb sneaks inside and finishes with a corkscrew shot over Giraud.  Nguyen dodges down the alley and sinks a low angle short-hopper and after four minutes, Bainbridge leads 3-0.  Nguyen's goal opens up the offense allowing Deery-Schmidt to poke another shot in on Giraud.  Mercer has struggled for any possession time to this point.  John Wettack's shot on Stevenson is saved, but Daniel Shields is there to pick up the trash and take it out for MI's first goal, trailing 4-1 at the end of the quarter, MI gets a man-up opportunity after a brilliant save by Stevenson all alone in with the shooter.

Strange turn of events to start the second quarter, Mercer Island held the ball to maintain possession being man-up.  A 3-minute stick penalty turns possession over to Bainbridge, and Sam Snow takes it to the rack top shelf under pressure to raise the lead to 5-1.  Giraud stays big in the cage, and keeps the Islanders safe while they exploit a 2-man advantage a the hands of John Wettack who looked his corner in before painting it.  Mercer trails 5-2 with 7 minutes left.  Daniel Shields works his man hard, and puts his mark on a no-angle shot wrapping the cage, a timely goal to keep the islanders in it 5-3.  Shields prepares to take MI on his shoulders dodging inside on two, stick faking his way to the doorstep where Stevenson makes an off shouder save.  Beautiful lacrosse, and in the final second on the crease, the Islanders buzzed another in an open net fighting the pile on, only to be called back.  Mercer Island trails at home, 5-3.

Mercer leads the ground ball war 14-10 to Mercer's advantage, and the play of Dugan McDermott with four ground balls. Giraud's play in the second quarter and Daniel Shields inside work for 2 goals on three shots.  Mercer's offense has been fairly one dimensional, and unable to help

Mercer Wins the face-off to start the third period, running a possession for the first three to four minutes, with a couple of EMO opportunities, unable to capitalize, but Mercer has decidedly kept Bainbridge from shooting or scoring for the last 17 minutes of game play.  Dan Shields who has been working hard to get to the cage, now facing a double team, draws two off, and gets the ball to Wettack who fires from the cow fields to score on Stevenson, MI now trails 5-4, scoring the last three goals, unanswered. MI has stalled the Bainbridge onslaught, as Caditz counts one finally after four opportunities man-up to tie the game with only 1 minute left in the quarter.  On the ensuing face-off, Nguyen gets the ball, and works hard to get closer to the cage, dodging, dodging, and left alone against Giraud, snipes a goal from 5 yards with 3 seconds left, high stepping to the sidelines for breaking the tie, 6-5.

Daniel Shields just became a Prime Time Player as he dodges underneath two guys, fights inside, and somehow, comes out of a pile on the crease with the ball, and adds another goal from nowhere.  Shields has a hat trick, and has single handedly made the difference in the game for Mercer.  Mercer has possession slowing the pace down, Shields working hard on the corners, until BI gets a transition opportunity and Nguyen fires a potential game winner past the cage with under two minutes.  Time out - Bainbridge, and they have possession.

Mercer leads a charge  by a doubled Daniel Shields who gets stuffed on the doorstep, and in transition BI calls a time out with 20 seconds left.  Mercer Island steals a pass, and we go to OVERTIME!!

Mercer has the first possession in OT threatening in the first two minutes.  Unable to convert, BI has a turn in the last 1:28 of the first overtime period.  Sam Snow will start with the ball.  Great defense holds off BI, and Mercer threatens twice down to the final seconds taking MI into double-OT!

Mercer would start out first, with two minutes of offense though no production.  Bainbridge would have another shot moving the ball up the field, only to have a pass stolen to go the other way.  MI would call a time out, followed by Matt shields getting his hands free for a shot, saved by Stevenson on his knees.  A dogpile ensues, and Daniel Shields comes up with the ball, shooting top right corner to finish the game 7-6 Double OT victory!! Hands down the best Lacrosse game of the year.

FINAL SCORE 7-6 DOUBLE OT

Coach O'Hearn had this to say, This rivalry is amazing.  Not only was it an amazing game against a great team, but the class of the rivalry truly shows in the sincere appreciation for the battle we just fought together. The players, and the coaches."

Players of the Game:

Daniel Shields 4g Mercer Island

Bryce Stevenson 11 saves

Hap Giraud 15 saves

MI-BI Crowd tops 1,500 people tonight.  TONS of good pictures at SoundLacrosse!

Game winning goal, Daniel Shields.