The Mercer Island boys lacrosse team took a trip to New York state to play some of the best teams in the nation and came home with four losses.

The Islanders began the trip on March 31 in Corning, N.Y., against Corning High School. The Islanders were beaten 16-5 during the game.

Corning controlled the game from the face-off.

“Their face-off kid is going to Delaware,” said Islander coach Ian O’Hearn. “You can’t score if you don’t get the ball.”

Mercer Island then took on perennial powerhouse and 2008 New York state champion West Genesee High School. The Islanders again struggled to keep pace, eventually losing 13-3 to the Wildcats on April 2.

“That program is like a machine,” said O’Hearn. “Everything they do is so meticulous.”

The Islanders traveled to Guilderland on April 3 and were more competitive. Mercer Island lost 12-7 to the Flying Dutchmen, but regained some pride with the tighter score.

The Islanders finished off the trip on Saturday with a game at Lake Panas. Despite only trailing 4-3 at the half, the result was the same, a 10-3 loss.

“We just ran out of gas,” said O’Hearn. “We scheduled too many hard teams in too short of a time.”

Despite the hard learning experience, the Islanders are still undefeated in Washington state play at 4-0 and tied with Vashon Island and Issaquah atop the division. Mercer Island is 6-4, overall.

The Islanders return home to take on Seattle Prep at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

One of the team’s biggest games of the season will take place at 8 p.m. on April 18, when the Islanders host perennial rival Bainbridge Island.