MERCER ISLAND - Although it had been a couple years since they last crossed paths, Brett Bottomley remembered Lake Oswego’s Lakeridge Pacers lacrosse team. Story by Joe Livarchik of the Mercer Island Reporter.

“We lost to them right here in [2013], so that kind of left a bad taste in our mouth,” Bottomley said. “Even though it was two years ago when I was a sophomore, the three of us that were on that team remembered that and that was motivation tonight.”

Scoring four second-half goals, Bottomley helped his Islander squad erase an early deficit to Lakeridge, as Mercer Island surged past the Pacers 12-10 Friday, March 27 at Islander Stadium.

Mercer Island was hosting the 10th annual Northwest Invitational, pitting 20 of the top lacrosse teams from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Montana and British Columbia. At the Invite in 2013, Lakeridge dealt Mercer Island its first loss of the season, and appeared poised to do so again Friday night.

The Pacers led 2-1 after the opening frame and extended its advantage to 5-1 with a goal from Corey Rich at the 7:32 mark of the second quarter. But two goals from Evan Condon and a goal and an assist from Bottomley rallied the Islanders to bring them within a score at the half, trailing 6-5.

“We just needed to make sure that we got more possessions than they did,” coach Ian O’Hearn said of his team's sluggish start. “We were having unforced turnovers, we were passing bad passes to each other. Once we sharpened up in the second half and eliminated our own mistakes and our bad turnovers, then we just started getting more possessions, more goals and wore them down.”

Bottomley went off after the break, scoring three goals in the third quarter as Mercer Island rode its momentum to go ahead 10-8 at the end of the period. He said favorable looks began to present themselves after O’Hearn instructed the team to look low for their shots.

“[It was a] combination of getting my head out more, putting the ball right where I wanted to and shooting it hard,” Bottomley said. “I just focused on shooting more low and as hard as I can and luckily, they go in sometimes.”

The Islanders fought off two more goals in the final period from Rich, while getting goals from Condon and Bottomley to secure the win. Bottomley finished with five goals and two assists to lead the Islanders. Condon posted a hat trick, scoring three goals and picking up 15 ground balls, and Scott Lee had 11 saves in the net. Rich led Lakeridge, finding the net five times.

Islanders edge Portland’s Jesuit

Mercer Island escaped Portland’s Jesuit Crusaders 10-9 in their second matchup of the Northwest Invitational Saturday, March 28 at MIHS. Bottomley once again led the Islanders (6-0, 2-0) in scoring with five goals and an assist, and Condon posted four goals and an assist. In goal, Lee had 11 saves.

Mercer Island will take on Newport at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at Newport High School.