THE WEEKLY BEAT�May 18-May 22, 2004 

Champions Crowned!

Division I: Mercer Island

Division II: Issaquah

 SCOREBOARD

DIVISION I 

SEMIFINALS

**Despite what many would consider an �off� season, Bainbridge dispatched the Eastside Ravens 14-10 and found themselves right back in the finals.  True, the Spartans did lose 3 games in state this year, but most would envy their 12-3 record.  They used a stellar 6-1, 1^st quarter to knock off the Ravens and earn their way back to Seahawk Stadium.

 **The unbeaten Islanders were given as much as they could handle.  Seattle Prep came out riding the back of Adam Sangeorson and led at the half 7-6.  Mercer looked to throw the knockout punch taking the lead back in the 3^rd, but Prep just wouldn�t go away.  The Panthers tied the game at 10.  Mercer displayed confidence and did well to never seem rattled.  They calmly continued to play and in a two-minute span near the 6-minute mark were able to notch the final tallies.  Prep still had chances to get back in it, but inability to clear the ball hurt at the end.

 FINALS

**Bainbridge vs Mercer, Part IV!  The 4^th consecutive year these two have met to decide it.  This one lacked the drama of the previous three as Mercer proved what it had shown all year- too deep, too strong.  This was a title three years in the making for 3^rd year head coach, Ian O�Hearn.  Mercer had upset Bainbridge back in 2000, but the Spartans were back on top in 2001-2002.

 Mercer jumped to a 2-0 lead.  Bainbridge closed to 2-1 and it looked like we might have a see-saw battle.  Islanders would have none of it though extending to 4-1 at the end of the period and 7-1 by halftime.  The spread would reach double digits before the Spartans would score again in the 4^th quarter.  The 4^th was a formality as the Islanders watched the seconds tick off the clock.  The Islanders captured their 2^nd Division I Championship, final score of 12-3.

Going into the match-up it was very apparent that midfield play would be key as the Islanders are very deep and injuries have made the Spartans very thin at the position.  It showed, as the combination of Chris Taylor and Brad Gillis were too much, combining for 8 points.  Pete Smith also added a goal and two assists from the midfield.  Taylor would finish with 4 goals and a game high 11 groundballs to earn MVP honors.

DIVISION II

QUARTERFINALS

**Fairly lopsided victories in all but one of the quarterfinals.  Vashon held off S.Kitsap for a 3^rd time this season, as did Overlake over Eastlake.  Roughriders pounded on Klahowya for three quarters in coasting to a 14-8 win.

 **The closest of the quarterfinal games saw Issaquah escape with a 5-4 victory over Garfield.  Garfield led 3-1 at halftime and 4-2 early in the 4^th before Issaquah went on a 3-0 run in a 5-minute span.  Issaquah then held on and held off a flurry of Bulldog chances in the last 5 minutes.  Great ball game that quite frankly could just have easily been a Finals match-up.

 SEMIFINALS

**Vashon gave the Roughriders some trouble for a half trailing by only one.  Vashon�s youth is incredible; they only graduate one!  Unfortunately, the youth and inexperience couldn�t keep up with the powerful, senior laden group of Roughriders.  The Roughriders rode another solid defensive performance to hold Vashon to one in the 2^nd frame and leave the island with a 9-5 victory. 

**Issaquah seemed a bit mentally exhausted after the nail-biter with Garfield and had trouble focusing on the net.  Despite controlling most of the game, uncharacteristic Issaquah turnovers and lack of finishing kept it close.  Overlake battled until the end and Issaquah needed two 4^th quarter goals to put it away and claim the 7-2 victory. 

FINALS

**Roughriders vs Issaquah for the third time this season, easily the most exciting game of the day at Seahawks Stadium on Saturday.  Sure, the pros had some more dazzling individual plays, but this game was certainly much closer and thus the drama.

 The teams combined for a relatively low 21 goals total in two match-ups this season.  The sparks started early though in this one as Issaquah tallied three unassisted to jump out 3-0.  Jerry Kerr got things started for the Roughriders with a quick catch and finish from a poor left angle.  They scored two more to tie the game at 3 before Nick Tierney scored his 3^rd of the quarter to give Issaquah a 4-3 lead. 

The Roughriders tied it again early in the 2^nd.  Issaquah answered as Craigh Cornelius raced up field and fired a 20-yard pass through the seam to a sneaking David Campi.  Punch, counterpunch, Roughriders came right back to knot it a 5 with under 20 seconds left in the half.  Issaquah wasn�t about to settle on the halftime horn.  Issaquah got the ball right back and Cornelius started things again.  This time he drove and pushed it to Campi on the low right pipe.  Campi�s quick stick across the face of the goal found Jon Matusiefsky who handled and finished from almost no angle with 2 seconds on the clock.  Issaquah 6-5 at half.

The 3^rd quarter began and once again the Roughriders tied it up.  The game seemed destined for another tight 1 or 2 goal affair that these teams are accustomed to.  Issaquah decided against that and used a late 3^rd quarter flurry to spread the gap.  Cornelius ripped a shot upper right to give Issaquah the lead.  Minutes later, Issaquah went man-up and Cornelius did it again- top shelf, upper right!  Less than 15 seconds in the quarter this time and it was Nick Tierney�s turn to provide some last second heroics.  Tierney dodge 3 defenders a ripped a side arm crank to the side left net with 5 seconds left on the clock.  Issaquah had pushed to a 9-6 lead in under 3 minutes. 

Cornelius looked to put the Roughriders away with an unassisted tally early in the period.  Roughriders were dead yet though as they pulled back one.  Issaquah had one final answer though.  Jon Matusiefsky caught an awkward feed and while being tied up by a defender managed to get off an awkward cross-handed shot.  It found the back of the net and gave Issaquah a 4-goal cushion with less than 10 minutes to play.  The Roughriders would score the final goal on a man-up, but Issaquah controlled much of the possession and ran-down the clock.

Another 3-year championship in the making as Issaquah�s program didn�t even exist 4 years ago!  Craigh Cornelius was named MVP finishing with 4g,1a.  Nick Tierney added 4g and 13 groundballs in the win. 

THE FUTURE

Never too early to talk about 2005 is it?  Whispers are already floating in the wind�12 teams in Division I?  New teams in Stanwood, Lynnwood, Bellingham?  Can the Islanders repeat? 

Did anyone catch that middle school game at halftime of the MLL contest?  One thing is certain: Lacrosse is here to stay in the Northwest!  We�ll see you in nine months!

The Weekly Beat is written by Brandon Fortier.

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