Tons of hard work turned into the sweet taste of success with a state title.

Head coach Lyndsey Gillis felt her Mercer Island High School girls lacrosse team played a near-perfect game in defeating Issaquah High School, 15-3, to win the state championship on May 20 at the Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila.

“In the championship game, our players not only showed up but executed the game plan brilliantly. I could not be more proud of this group of young women,” Gillis said.

Senior Molly Brodsky was the most valuable player of the game with five goals, three draw controls and three caused turnovers.

Gillis noted that other notable players were junior Jamison Drayton with four goals and one caused turnover, sophomore Erica Kierstead with four goals and one ground ball and junior Renn Novak with four saves and one ground ball.

The Islanders notched a 15-1 overall record this season, scored 228 goals and conceded 68 goals. Gillis said the team’s performance was 20%-plus more successful than the next squad in the state.

“In 2021, we graduated nine seniors and endured a non-playoff season where we beat all of our opponents by a seven-goal margin having the toughest schedule in the state,” the coach said. “This year, our 2022 squad was a younger crew embracing new roles across the board. Our student athletes worked incredibly hard throughout the spring. They were always eager to compete, but simultaneously work together to find success.”