PCLC Tourney Juggernaught Match, Bellevue Stands Tall

Pacific Cascade Lacrosse Club hosted a four-team lax-a-thon on Saturday at the Skyline Lacrosse fields for Middle School Elite teams in what proved to be a juggernaught finish between Lake Washington and Bellevue Blue.
Scott Kelley, who not only helped organize the event, but much of the PCLC team as well, wanted to get an opportunity for his guys to play other teams in the area.  What he got, was a four-team event showcasing some high level Lacrosse talent, and a lot of guts.

PCLC, Bellevue Blue, Lake Washington Kangas, and Northshore all entered teams to play in the tourney.  At first sight, the match-up for the final might be the Bellevue team and the PCLC squad based on history.  Running full length games proved to be the challenge for many, even though the weather would be very forgiving given the time of year.  The first game started off between Bellevue and Northshore at 9am on Saturday.  Bellevue took the lead, and never looked back, winning soundly over Northshore.

Lake Washington would step up to the plate against PCLC for their first match-up against one another.  A hard fought game, PCLC came out ahead by a single goal in what looked like great transition Lacrosse from both teams.  Keeper play was also especially good on PCLC's side.  Game three would see the titan mathc-up between Bellevue and PCLC, a fiercely competitive game on both sides, with all the makings of a great rivalry game.  Bellevue would take the game, but one of the best middle school games I have seen in recent memory. 

The bracketing was set up to allow the top seeded team, one less game than anyone playing through the ranks to get to the championship.  This actually would begin a three-game back-to-back performance by Lake Washington, as they battled and won over Northshore, in the 12:30 game.  Giving the Kangols a rest for a few minutes, to eat oranges and whatever they could before their second game in a row, PCLC came out ready to play, and controlled the game until the fourth quarter when the score was 4-3.  The Kangols staged a final quarter rally to ring in two goals, including a shot in the final ticks of the game, to win by one over their hosts.  That wouldn't end the play for the Kangols, as their victory would now put them against a well-rested Bellevue team in their third consecutive game with 16 players.

Bellevue came to play in the final game asserting their will on the Kangas who were exhausted.  The championship game ended with Bellevue winning 6-3 over an exhausted Kangol team.  All in all, it was a great opportunity for the Middle School talent in attendance, and a great cinderella story for the Lake Washington Kangols and a defining win for Bellevue.

More pictures to come... we'll post them tonight!