D1 Championship Game Recap - MI Wins Again!
Mercer gets possession on the face and has the first shot on Johnson and the second as Mahony works on the Issaquah keeper. Travis Wright shoots and his shot is saved by Schwartz. He moves the ball to Mahony who manages control of the offense. Johnson makes an incredible save, but Mercer is attacking with zeal. Gerrard clears the ball, but it winds up in Brazg's stick as he clears it for MI as Taylor Dawson peels back the layers on a feed from Kevin Mahony and Mercer is on the board first with 7:32 remaining. After getting the ball on the face, Mercer's Kaminsky winds one past Johnson which may have hit him going by and MI leads 2-0 at 7:23 in the first. MI is dominating possesion time as Dawson fires another shot just wide. The Eagles defense strips MI and a ground ball battle ensues. MI picks it up, but loses possession as the Eagles clear it and attack the cage with about 2 minutes in the first. Schwartz saves Campi's shot. Schwartz redirects the ball, finds Mahony who hits Dawson for his second of the day, and Mercer is up 3-0 with 1:16 left in the first. Just 16 seconds later, wright feeds Campi who doorsteps a dunk on the corner and Issaquah is on the board. Mercer gets a penalty out of the deal, and with under a minute left in the first quarter, MI gets the ball out of traffic in man-down, and the quarter will expire. Mercer calls the time out to gather themselves and protect the ball to avoid a no face-off possession for Issaquah. With three seconds left, MI gets into the second quarter continuing possession from the first. Frankel tucks one past Johnson on an assist by Kaminsky. Right off the face off, Issaquah's Kevin Mahony gets the ball, feeds his brother, and the score is Mercer 5, Issaquah 1 with 10:42 remaining. Again, Mercer gets possession, but turns it over to Issaquah who throws it out of bounds on the break. Mercer clears it but drops at midfield to Issy's Yaap as he twists Schwartz up and slips a quick shot into the net. Issy gets number two with 9:20 left in this half. Mercer has dominated the possession in this game. Winning the face, the ball starts with Kevin Mahony who passes to Greg as he tallies another unassisted and the score is Mercer leading the Eagles, 6-2. After some changes of possession and some great ball movement by Mercer, Johnson makes another unbelievable save. Gerrard clears it, and Travis Wright comes out of the box, gets a feed, and scores to bring Issaquah up to 3. With 2:44 remaining in the half, Mercer has possession but Gerrard comes up with a possession that Issaquah cannot control. MI gets the ball back from Schwartz who comes out to grab the ball, and Mercer will call time out with possession, but cannot keep possession, and Issy's time out gets them. Campi takes it to the cage with 1 seconds in the half to make it Issy 4, Mercer 6 at the half. Opening the first minute of the third, Nick Yaap fires one Schwartz can't reach, and we have a game at 6-5 Mercer leading. Both Campi, and Yaap are threatening, as Mercer turns a 1 minute man-down off and get possession. Both Mahony brothers get a turn but can't finish. The 'quah has a turn, but Brazg takes one as MI clears the ball. Mason Smith is at hand as Issaquah sends it the other way to Brenden Frye who walks uncontested into scoring position to tie the game. Issaquah's Yaap feeds Morris on a nice fake, sells the defense and Issaquah goes ahead 7-6. The Eagles suffer a man-down as MI looks to tie it up as Johnson saves the shot and draws the 1 minute on Mercer. Schwartz makes a ridiculous save and keeps Issy out at a crucial game time. The intensity is picking up as each team trades big plays on both ends of the field with less than a minute to play. Campi has a shot solo on Schwartz, and he makes another spectacular save, but cannot stop the second as Kale Frye bangs one in and Issy leads 8-6. In the final seconds, Mercer fires a Frankel shot, but it doesn't break the plane of the goal before time expires, but replay may help sometime in the future. Too close to tell. Starting the fourth, Brendan Frye puts in another bullet on Campi's feed to give Issaquah the lead by three just 30 seconds into the final quarter. Schwartz makes a spectacular save as the MI defense allows Bates to touch shoulder with Schwartz. Mercer gets another opportunity with Dawson who creeps the corner with 7:51 left in the quarter. On a man-down, Mahony finds Ellis tip toeing a low shot past Johnson, and MI trails by one with 7:06 on the clock. MI gets a strip in a key possession for Issaquah, and then calls a time out with 5 minutes remaining. Mercer will need one to tie it. Retaining possession after a shot, Kevin Mahony goes to work feeding the crease. Awesome Dawson cranks his fourth score, and we are again, tied at 9 with just three minutes to play. Issy threatens again, as Bates touches the crease giving back a great Issaquah goal. With 1:14, Howell comes down for a shot, which goes wide, but Mercer retains possession with 33 seconds and Mercer looks to prevent an overtime session with a win right here. The crowd is on their feet! Kaminsky starts with the ball, passes the ball around, and Kevin Mahony, with ONE SECOND LEFT, SCORES! Mercer leads 10-9 and will win their third straight state championship as they line up for the final face off. Taylor Dawson should be the MVP with his four goals in a break out game for him. Johnson and Schwartz both had great games, as Mercer wins a rags to riches season. check out the photo gallery for more pictures!
Mercer and Issaquah battle today in the Division One championship, Mercer beating Bainbridge to get here, and playing hot. Issaquah beating Garfield and owning the series 2-0.
