While the regular season has already kicked off for the Mercer Island boys lacrosse team, they will be busy hosting the Northwest Invitational this weekend.

Sixteen teams from around the area, and one from New York, will be playing on Mercer Island. The five teams from Washington include: Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Bainbridge Island, Issaquah and Skyline – all teams that played in the state tournament during the 2011 season. Five teams from Oregon will make the trip north, all teams which finished near the top, or at the top, of the state tournament. Timberline, a 2011 Idaho state semifinals from Bosie, as well as Contennial, a 2011 Nevada state semifinalist, along with Palo Verde, which won the state title last season in Nevada. Claremont School, out of Victoria, British Colubmia, will also be playing in the event. The school was a provincial finalists last season. Guilderland is traveling west from New York – a team that was a section finalist during the 2011 season.

Games will be held Friday, March 25 through Sunday, March 27 at Mercer Island High School and Islander Middle School. The event is $5 for a full day, with kids 10 and under getting in free.

“The East Coast is a traditional hotbed of lacrosse so it will be a great experience for the kids to see all these teams,” said Mercer Island head coach Ian O’Hearn.

Mercer Island will play Lake Oswego, from Oregon, on Friday night at 8 p.m. at MIHS. The marquee event of the weekend will pit the Islanders, defending Washington state champions, against Oregon’s Lincoln, 2011 Oregon state champions, on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at MIHS.

“Saturday is kind of the marquee event,” said O’Hearn.

To learn more about the event, including results, visit the Invitational’s website.