With a league title at stake, Mercer Island was hoping for a change of fortune against the Bellevue Wolverines in their regular season finale Thursday night at Islander Stadium.
The Wolverines were the only team all season to hold the Islanders scoreless on the soccer pitch. A single goal separated the two teams in their previous matchup Oct. 6 in Bellevue, deadlocking them into a tie for first place.
Once again, a single goal proved to be the difference. And once again, it was Bellevue delivering the blow.
Getting a goal from sophomore Anastasia Justus in the 70th minute, the Bellevue Wolverines edged Mercer Island 1-0 to claim the 3A/2A KingCo league title. The win earned Bellevue (11-4, 10-2 in KingCo) the top seed and home-field advantage going into the 3A KingCo tournament.
“It was exciting that it built up to this end game,” Bellevue coach Matt Dorman said. “Our pre-game prep was to focus on the fact that it was the same as any game, so our focus today was keeping composed. We just wanted to be relaxed and play our game.”
Bellevue’s front line had the Islanders (13-3, 9-3 in KingCo) on their heels throughout much of the contest. Though the Wolverines only outshot the Islanders 8-5 in a scoreless first half, Bellevue consistently maintained offensive possession just past midfield, pushing Mercer Island’s forwards back and keeping pressure on the Islander midfielders.
Mercer Island attempted to turn up its offensive attack in the second half, getting looks in the 44th and 47th minutes, but couldn’t finish past goalkeeper Brittley Gaan.
“We had some chances to get it in and sometimes it’s just not there,” Mercer Island coach Ryan Camden said. “Our goal was to press them as much as we could and we did. All you can ask at the end of the day is that you play your best, that’s soccer sometimes. We’ll be ready to go back to work and come at it again.”
Bellevue had three corner opportunities in the game, with two in the second half. The third in the 69th minute led to the game-deciding goal. Justus made the most of Sophia Butterfield’s kick, which found her right in front of the net.
“It gives us home-field advantage, so that was pretty big,” Justus said.
Mercer Island will face Bellevue again in their KingCo tournament matchup at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2 at Bellevue High School. The winner will earn an automatic berth to the 3A state tournament.
