Islanders defeat rival Wolverines in the pool

September 29, 2017 3:06 pm
Photo courtesy of Michelle Kavesh Mercer Island Islanders goalie Wil Cero passes the ball to an open teammate. Cero had seven saves in the victory against Bellevue on Sept. 19.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Kavesh Mercer Island Islanders goalie Wil Cero passes the ball to an open teammate. Cero had seven saves in the victory against Bellevue on Sept. 19.

BY CAROL GULLSTAD

Special to the Reporter

The Mercer Island boys water polo team ended its two-year winless drought against the Bellevue Wolverines on Sept. 19, courtesy of a 8-2 win on Mercer Island.

The wind, rain and thick layer of mist made it nearly impossible for either team to see the opposite side of the pool. Bellevue tried to take advantage of the inclement weather, unleashing 19 shots on goal, but Islanders’ goalie Will Cero had seven saves, allowing just two goals. Daniel Kavesh lead the Islanders attack with four goals, one field block and one steal.

Mercer Island finished the first two weeks of the season with a 3-1 record following victories against Bellevue, Inglemoor and Newport, with a single loss at Sammamish.

Earlier this season, the Sammamish Totems shocked Mercer Island in the season opener Sept. 11 with a 5-4 win, defeating the Islanders for the first time since 2011. The Totems jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, taking advantage of Islander Sammy Vacca’s game ejection in the opening minutes. Mercer Island nearly closed the gap, but could not convert the needed goals on 18 attempts.

Senior Carson Coe said,“This game was a good wake-up call; we need to work harder in the pool and not be complacent.”

The Islanders rallied a few nights later cruising to a 14-3 victory over Inglemoor. The offense came alive with nine different Islanders contributing to the score — Brittain, Robinson, Hill, Nair, Kavesh, Gullstad, M. Vacca, Schaff and Jradi.

Newport proved to be a tougher challenge on Sept. 21 in which the Islanders captured a 12-8 victory.

The Islanders went out with a 2-0 first quarter on a Kavesh assist to Max Vacca and a 5-meter goal by Sammy Vacca, but committed nine turnovers during the game. The Knights and Islanders traded goals back and forth during the second and third quarters with six apiece. However, the Islanders sealed the game in the final quarter. The Islanders finally pulled away on the fourth with a 4-2 goal advantage. Seven of Newport’s eight goals were scored by Ben Golan.