Islanders earn No. 1 seed for playoffs | Boys lacrosse

Practically the whole season had been leading up to this game and it wasn’t even the playoffs yet. Going into Friday night’s lacrosse game between Mercer Island and Bellevue, the two teams were tied for first place in the Northwest conference.

By Megan Managan • May 18, 2010 3:40 pm
Mercer Island’s Alex Rorem (15) looks for an open teammate to pass to as Bellevue’s Cole Nordstrom (9) plays defense during the Islanders’ 7-5 win over Bellevue last Friday.
Mercer Island’s Alex Rorem (15) looks for an open teammate to pass to as Bellevue’s Cole Nordstrom (9) plays defense during the Islanders’ 7-5 win over Bellevue last Friday.

Practically the whole season had been leading up to this game and it wasn’t even the playoffs yet. Going into Friday night’s lacrosse game between Mercer Island and Bellevue, the two teams were tied for first place in the Northwest conference. The outcome of the match would decide who earned the No. 1 seed going into this week’s playoffs.

The Islanders keep their perfect record (19-0 overall, 14-0 league) while simultaneously keeping Bellevue from beating Mercer Island, something the Wolverines haven’t accomplished since 2002.

“It’s nice to secure the No. 1 spot,” said head coach Ian O’Hearn. He and Bellevue head coach John Baumann played together in college, and O’Hearn said Baumann hasn’t beaten him since he started coaching the Wolverines.

“It was a big game emotionally for them, and we played mentally and physically well,” said the coach.

O’Hearn said the key to Friday night’s game, the last of the regular season, was sticking to the systems they had been using all year.

“We knew we had to play a disciplined game and that would be the difference,” he said. “We had to limit our mental mistakes.”

The Islanders will begin their quest for the state title on Friday night, during a game against the winner of Wednesday’s Curtis versus Overlake matchup. The Islanders beat Overlake 18-1 during the regular season and Curtis 17-2.

“Either team would be a warm up for the semifinals,” he said.

During the win over Bellevue, Steven Taylor had four goals, Jonathan Wettack earned two goals and Connor Bernal had two assists. Goalie Hap Giraud had 12 saves.

“Steven Taylor had a phenomenal game,” said O’Hearn. “He and Hap Giraud were just phenomenal.”

The team was also honored this week when senior attackman Wettack was named one of the state’s three lacrosse All-Americans.

“I think he deserved it,” said O’Hearn. Wettack was chosen unanimously. O’Hearn said one of the coaches at the voting event described Wettack as one of “the best players on the best teams.”

Wettack will be attending State University of New York Geneseo where he will be playing lacrosse. O’Hearn said the school has a top 10 NCAA Division III team.