NW Lacrosse Invitational - Mercer Island vs. Lakeridge Game Recap

After two shots, Lakeridge turns the ball over on the crease as MI moves up to work the ball. Driving against the keeper, MI gets an EMO opportunity, but a save by the Lakeridge keeper gives them the ball to kill the penalty. Seconds later, MI gets a penalty to give Lakeridge the ball. For a few seconds, Lakeridge is even strength, then Lakeridge, is man-up for 30 seconds. With 6:45. Left in the first quarter, Conner Martin from Lakeridge adds another to the total. Lakeridge leads 2-0 in the first.

Greg Mahony clears the ball down to the other end and gets a shot off before going out. Kevin Mahony gets a shot but misses. Lakeridge's turn. Now possessing the ball running the 1-4, making several shots though no scores. Greg Mahony gets a nice sweep on the cage scoring with 1:19 left on the clock making the score 2-1. At the end of one, MI is down 2-1 to a polished Lakeridge team.

Lakeridge starts off the quarter with moving the ball and firing a shot that finds home on the near-side pipe of Schwartz's cage. Lakeridge leads 3-1. Lakeridge ends another possession into MI where Kevin Mahony hits Dawson for another MI goal. Lakeridge answers with another score from Purcell fed by Blackmore making the score 4-2 with 5 minutes to go. In heavy ground ball work, Brazg snatches a pass returning it to Lakeridge in another intercepted feed. Brazg carries the ball down and gets a shot but doesn't score. Henderson inbounds the ball, and moves it to Kevin Mahony for a shot. The ball is turned over, and Brazg gets another turn with the ball as he forces Lakeridge to turn it over. Brazg is doing a great job in keeping MI possession, and moves the ball for possession. Greg Mahony fires a rocket to score a third for MI. Lakeridge is up 4-3.

Martin gets another feed inside to finish making the score 5-3 with 57 seconds left. MI gets possession on another Brazg steal, and Mercer calls time out with 7 seconds in the half. MI ends the half down 5-3. Halftimes stats, 17 ground balls, 17 shots for each team. Lakeridge has every shot coming from their attack led by Martin and MI shots are led by the Mahony brothers. Brazg starts off on the face for MI, changing up the normal. Lakeridge is dominating the face-offs, and MI cannot find the answer. Martin again hits Blackmore for a score with 9 minutes left to play in the third quarter.

Mercer has a work at the 1-4, but Lakeridge brings an early slide to protect, and Kevin Mahony is being forced to feed. With 7 minutes left in the third, Lakeridge leads 6-3. Greg Mahony is working hard against solid short-stick defense, and scores on a hard drive to the cage. He earned that one with 6 minutes left in the third.

MI gets a man-up opportunity and they try the fake ball trick with three or four shots. Kevin works hard to beat his defensemen, and finds the net on the nearside pipe making the score 5-6 Lakeside lead with just over three forty-five in the quarter. Now Lakeside has possession and is working the ball until Brazg slips the ball and gives MI possession to end the quarter.

Lakeridge leads 6-5 starting the fourth. MI gets the ball and a penalty giving Lakeridge a man-up opportunity they don't let go to waste. Moving back to X and then the other direction, when Oertell adds number seven to the Lakeridge total. Just then, Greg Mahony steals a pass, hits Kevin Mahony who feeds across the crease to AJ Ellis who tallies another for MI with 9 minutes. Just thirty seconds later, Greg Mahony tears another nasty shot to tie it up at sevens. Kevin Mahony and Greg Mahony combine for another goal and MI leads 8-7. Lakeridge threatens with several shots and drives but Brazg has the answer, he moves the ball up to Kevin Mahony and he feeds Greg who tears another goal off with a jump shot. MI leads 9-7 with 3:34 left.

Kevin Mahony now behind the cage working to draw a slide to open the 1-4 when he is doubled to force the ball out. Lakeridge drives on Brazg and he lifts his attackman out of threat range. MI now with possession can't keep it in the box and turns it over. MI has too many men, and gives Lakeridge a man up with just over 1 minute remaining in the game. Shot and save by Schwartz and now MI will play the possession game. Lakeridge gets possession by doubling the the ball. Once again, Brazg strips the ball again and ends the game. Mercer Island wins 9-7 and seems to have put it all back together.