Bainbridge Erupts, Downs Issaquah 13-9 Stands Tall After Fourth Quarter Rush

Out of the division I semi-finalists, Bainbridge, Issaquah, Mercer Island, and Bellevue, these two teams are the most dynamic- for better or worse.  Bainbridge’s potent offense has been hot and cold this year, but when they are hot, look out.  Issaquah has been passionate all year, consistently delivering 3 quarters of Lacrosse, and some of the best transition around.  What we don’t know, is how these two really match up.  It is different, any given Sunday.  13 seniors playing a band of brothers, both playing for something this season. It started off slow, but like gunpowder, it exploded with a slow fuse.

Issaquah Deadlocked until the 7^th minute of play,  Bainbridge gets on board first with a goal from Jacob Goodman  assisted by Deery-Schmidt.  The Spartans would strike again thanks to Alex Rabin on an assist from Cam Parker with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.  At the end of one, BI 2-0.

At 9:02, Fritz broke the silence unassisted, Issaquah wakes from their silence, working behind the cage.  BI’s Rabin  went coast to coast on a clear, and found Knostman  on the corner, making the count 3-1 BI.  BI has clearly dominated possession time, and ground balls.  Owning the ball for most of the quarter, a dodge from up top gave a right-handed sniper shot from Jacob Goodman another goal, followed by another goal by Alex Crane assisted by Jacob Goodman now tallying 2 goals and 1 assist.  Bainbridge’s 5-1 lead with 3 minutes left in the half, wasn’t just momentum, it was hustle and free mostly free from mistakes.  As the half expired, Issaquah was struggling to clear the ball behind a swarm of Spartans chasing Hahn down out of the cage.

The second half opened with Crane winning the face-off, followed by  Crane’s fade-away bouncer, to lead 6-1 at 10 minutes.  Yarbrough  made a pocket save on man-down when a perfect transition on man-down, finds Cam Parker  alone with Hahn as he scores a man-down goal to lead 7-1 with 9 minutes to play in the third.  The story of the game thus far, is ground balls.  The eighth goal for the in-home on a misfired between the Issy defense and goalie,  just continued the spiral, as Cam Parker lights up a lefty rocket for number 9 midway through the third quarter.  Rabin adds to the tally 10-1 in the third.  O’Neil  tallies Issaquah’s second goal of the game, on a man-up, showing some life for Issaquah.  Answering right back, Crane  continues dominating the face-off X, finding Knostman alone on the crease as he punishes Hahn with another goal, now 11-2.   With under 2 in the quarter.  Fritz answers back with a shovel shot, his second of the game, with under a minute remaining.

Reynolds Yarbrough looks like he has been playing division I all season with the saves he has made tonight.  In the fourth, Bainbridge continued to burn the powder as Crane added another tally against a frustrated Issaquah now a 12-3 lead.  After a field skirmish, Issaquah’s Powers scored number 4, to cut the lead to 8.  Slowing the pace down,  Bainbridge settles into their offense.  Parker takes it behind, and dunks it making it 13-5.   O'Neill Jams one in past Yarbrough inside after a Powers face-off, now dueling offensive weapons, much like we though we would see.  The difference on defense can also be attributed to Lindor who is not playing this game.  In spite of that, Issaquah pushed hard in the fourth, Powers added another to the total.  Fritz adds another making the score 13-8, with three unanswered.  It would be too little too late, as Issaquah’s time ran out.  Final Score 13-9, after a last second goal by Issaquah.

Players of the Game