Cold Play on a Cold Night
The division 1 playoff picture was finalized Monday night when Mercer Island and Bellevue met tonight to determine number two and number three in the Mountain Conference. A win for either puts them into the playoffs as the number four seed while the loser must win the play in game Wednesday night to gain entrance to the playoffs.
MI won the initial face off and held possession for the first 2.5 minutes. Kevin Mahoney demonstrated why he was recognized as All American with a strong bounce shot over Spencer Schmidt at 7:41 of the first quarter. Jake Medwell countered for Bellevue with a long outside blast at 6:01. Play was unsettled for most of the game with neither team showing consistent play. The ball was on the ground much of the time as both teams had difficulty maintaining possession. Kevin Mahoney tallied again at 2:22 to take a 2 to 1 lead. Jon Schwartz made a good save for MI and headed up the field. He failed to recognize a Bellevue player overtaking him and lost the ball on a good check. Jeff Spangler picked up the loose ground ball and launched a 15-yard shot to even the score at 2 all. Greg Mahoney brought the lead back to MI with 32 seconds left taking advantage of a quick restart to score on a one on one opportunity. MI 3, Bellevue 2 at the end of one quarter.
The first quarter was characterized by sloppy play on both sides, as they appeared casual about the stakes of this game.
Bellevue took the opening face off of the second quarter. Jeff Spangler ripped the back of the net to help Bellevue to reknot the score at 3 all. After additional unsettled play, A.J. Ellis scooped up a rebound of a great Schmidt save in front of the net and gave MI another lead. MI then built the lead as A.J. continued to create with a solid feed to senior middie Ian Kaminski. MI 5, Bellevue 3.
Halftime stats show MI with 24 shots, 23 ground balls and 3 saves. Bellevue had 9 shots, 15 ground balls, and 13 saves.
Jeff Spangler started a Bellevue rally with his second goal to bring the Wolverines within one. The game continued to move back and forth with little controlled offense until Mahoney Island tallied a goal at 1:49 to stretch the lead to 2 goals. The third quarter ends with MI in the lead 6 to 4.
The game outcome was still up in the air entering the final twelve minutes. Which team wanted the automatic qualifier more? Bellevue showed resolve as senior attackman Austin Zier scored on a strong drive to bring Bellevue to within one. A packed stadium urged both teams on with vigor. A.J. to the rescue as he found Greg Mahoney cutting to the cage and Mahoney racked up another hat to crown an outstanding season for the first team all state attack. Bellevue was clearly reeling from the quick MI response. MI then demonstrated their tradition, sending their senior class off with a big home win. Ian Kaminski went to the rack again on an unassisted shot. Taylor Dawson was in the right place at the right time, picking up a rebound from a brilliant Spencer save and sending home his first goal of the night. Mercer Island finished with a nice hat for senior Kaminski. Hats off to Spencer Schmidt who played an outstanding game, making saves, clearing the ball himself and generating resonance in the offense by example. Bellevue will have to fix their clearing on the defensive half.
Sloppy doesn’t show in the final score. Mercer Island avoids the play-in game forcing Bellevue to step up to make the great eight. Senior night at MI was a success. Could anyone have expected a different ending?
Final Stats:
Mercer Island 39 shots, 51 ground balls, 9 saves, 11 face-off wins. Bellevue 20 shots, 25 ground balls, 16 saves, 5 face-offs. Note how the final score of 10-5 mirrors shots, ground balls and face offs.
