Islanders lacrosse battles to last seconds of finals

The Mercer Island boys lacrosse team cruised through the 2009 season undefeated before meeting Issaquah, the 2008 defending state champion in the state finals at Memorial Stadium last weekend.

By Megan Managan • June 2, 2009 6:24 pm
Steven Caditz tries to get around an Issaquah defender during the 2009 boys state lacrosse championships last Saturday. The Islanders lost the game 10-9.
Steven Caditz tries to get around an Issaquah defender during the 2009 boys state lacrosse championships last Saturday. The Islanders lost the game 10-9.

The Mercer Island boys lacrosse team cruised through the 2009 season undefeated before meeting Issaquah, the 2008 defending state champion in the state finals at Memorial Stadium last weekend.

The Islanders fell short in the last seconds of the game, losing 10-9 for second place.

The first half was tough for the boys from Mercer Island as Issaquah connected with the back of the net eight times to the Islanders’ four. Heading back onto the field after halftime, the Islanders reemerged, holding off Issaquah in the third while the Islanders scored. The team went on a run in the fourth period, garnering four more goals to the Eagles’ two, but in the end it wasn’t enough to push the Islanders to the top.

Earlier, during the regular season, the Islanders had beaten the Eagles 6-4.

Michael Black, who took Daniel Shields’ position on the field after Shields suffered a broken ankle before the semifinal game against Curtis, had two goals.

Ian O’Hearn, the boys head coach, said that All-American Shields had been averaging five points a game before getting hurt.

“It definitely puts a new spin on things,” said O’Hearn.

Doug Manhoney scored another two for the Islanders, while Connor Bernal, Matthew Shields, Johnathan Wettack, Steven Taylor and Steven Caditz each scored a goal of their own for the team.

Prior to the state final game, the Islanders dominated Curtis in the semifinal round on Wednesday, beating Curtis 19-4. Issaquah held onto the chance to defend the title after beating Bainbridge 5-4 in overtime.

“I thought we had a very successful season,” said Ian O’Hearn, the boys head coach. He said the team’s only losses throughout the season came during a spring break trip to play four teams in New York, some of the best in the nation.

“They made us better for the rest of the season,” O’Hearn said of playing against those four top teams.

“Overall, the kids did great. All around, it was a good season,” he said. The team will only lose four seniors to graduation next year, giving the team a leg up when the 2010 season rolls around.