After a disappointing loss to Bellevue in the state semifinals Friday night, Mercer Island came through the back bracket to reach the third-place game Saturday, Nov. 15. Following a 23-6 thrashing of Auburn-Mountainview, the Islanders found redemption against Roosevelt, beating the Roughriders 11-8 to take third place at the state tournament.

The Roughriders had bested the Islanders in their previous two contests, including a 7-5 victory in the district finals. Roosevelt entered the state tournament as the number one seed, but the Islanders were determined to take control of the contest and produce a different outcome this time.

The Islanders came out strong, posting three unanswered goals and leading 3-2 after the first quarter. The Islanders widened their margin in the second on a series of goals by Jack Larkin, Topher Lacrampe and Connor Vacca to head into the half ahead 8-4.

Mercer Island never conceded its advantage, putting the icing on the cake with a Parker Bannister goal in the closing seconds against an empty Roosevelt net.

Coach Andrew Smith-Jones said, “It’s great to end on a positive note. Tonight we showed what Islander Polo is all about.”

Mercer Island bulldozed through Bainbridge 19-2 to open the tournament before falling to cross-lake rival Bellevue 11-9 in the semifinals. Bellevue topped Curtis for its fourth-straight boys water polo title.