Coming off a loss last week to Oregon Episcopal School, the Mercer Island boys lacrosse team responded in a big way during their spring break trip to Massachusetts. The Islanders beat the No. 8 team in the country, Duxbury High in overtime on Wednesday when Connor Bernal scored the final goal for the 7-6 victory.

The Islanders came into the game against Duxbury ready to break the spell of last weekends loss – knowing it would be no easy challenge, as the Green Dragons had won six of the last seven state titles in Massachusetts.

Early in the match, Mercer Island held their own with their opponent, and by the third quarter the teams were in a 4-4 tie. In the last quarter of the match, Peter Iani scored for an Islander lead with just over 4 minutes on the clock. Duxbury forced the overtime by scoring in the final minute of the game, and quickly controlled the extra period, stalling the Islanders offense. But with only 45 seconds left in the match, Bernal regained possession and headed to the goal.

“I told (Bernal), he had two options,” said head coach Ian O’Hearn.  “If they put a pole on him, he had to redirect the ball around to another middie.  If they put a shortie on him – go to the goal.”

The short stick defender came after Bernal, and he went for the goal, putting the ball into the lower left hand side of the net for the win with just 45 seconds left on the clock.

It’s the first time any Washington lacrosse team has upset a top 10 ranked school.

Bernal ended the game with two goals, while Colton Knebel had two of his own, and Alex Robbs had one, as did captain Doug Mahony. Goalie Brian Bernstein recorded 17 saves during the game.

The Islanders, now 9-1 this season, will face Concord-Carlisle on Friday, April 8 and Lincoln-Sudbury on April 9 before returning home.