Division I Quarter-Finals

Here are the write-ups and results of the DI quarterfinals: The Verdict is in - the usual suspects will vie for a birth to The Show next Wednesday night.  Bellevue vs. Mercer Island in a blood feud from Last year's championship game, Issaquah vs. Bainbridge battle between two storied teams with powerful reasons to win.  Look out, the usual suspects may have unusual results!

Mercer Island Runs Over King's Way 15-2

MERCER ISLAND- King's Way came up with first possession off the face-off.  Islander goalie Brian Bernstein made a save and the ball went the other way.  After the Islanders worked it around the ball was knocked loose near the crease and Zach Stickney to clean it up giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead.  It was short-lived as the Islanders drew a penalty.  On the ensuing EMO, Clayton Frank found Jack Beall on the inside to even up the score. The King's Way defense, which stymied the Islanders earlier this season, was solid, playing tough and tight.  However, the Islander went on a scoring spree.  Matt Shields scored after blasting Max Zandstra in the chest with a shot and the ball’s backspin off the turf propelled it into the goal.  Shields scored again with a nice time-and-room shot off a feed from Connor Bernal.  Alex Robbs added an unassisted goal giving Mercer Island a 4-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.  The Knights controlled the face-off circle winning all six of the first quarter's face-offs. 

Recently named All-American Doug Mahony opened up the second quarter with a nice high-low bouncer.  The King's Way defense found success with trail checks on the Islanders, slowing their settled offense.  Their aggressive ride also frustrated the Islander transition.  King's Way switched to their zone defense that was successful earlier this season against the Islanders.  The Knights held possession for nearly five minutes, but could not convert and led to an unforced turnover.  Penalties and unforced errors slowed game tempo and scoring for both teams.  Islander Alex Rorem scored unassisted and off the next faceoff Robbs found Shields for a hat trick.  The Islanders held the lead 7-1 at halftime.

Right out of the gates action started.  Mahony stripped Tyler Preston off the face-off and in transition Zandstra blocked two shots, but his own defenseman kicked in the loose ball by accident.  King's Way continued to play tough defense, but failed to clear effectively and maintain any solid possessions.   Mercer Island kept the scoring spree until finally in the middle of the third quarter, Jason Klein found Connor Harwood on the doorstep for King's Way second goal of the night.  However, the Islanders would win this quarterfinal match 15-2.  Mercer Island will face Bellevue in the state semi-finals next Wednesday at Islander Stadium….and oh There Will Be Blood.

Player of the Game:

Matt Shields- 5g,1a

Bainbridge Blasts Eastside Catholic 14-4

SCORING HIGHLIGHTS:  Bainbridge 14, Eastside Catholic 4 – Bainbridge advances to state semifinals (Alex Crane, B, 5 goals, 7 ground balls; Cameron Parker, B, 3 goals, 1 assist; Alexander Rabin, B, 2 goals, 2 ground balls; Jacob Goodman, B, 2 goals, 4 assists, 2 ground balls; Sean Kennedy, B, 2 goals, 4 ground balls; Reynolds Yarborough, B, 10 saves; Michael Rambaldini, EC, 2 goals, 1 ground ball; Colin MacIlvennie, EC, 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 ground ball; Jeff Foreman, EC, 1 goal, 1 ground ball; Colin Shriever, EC, 6 saves)

Bellevue Escapes Curtis 8-6

The Curtis Vikings hosted the Bellevue Wolverines in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Curtis, by virtue of its regular season performance, was able to rest and heal with a bye in the first round. Bellevue on the other hand had a 14-5 tuneup victory over Lake Tapps on Tuesday night.  The Vikings have ended the Wolverines' season in two of the past three years, so expectations were high among the fans for a good contest.

One minute into the game Bellevue's Dakota Jones took a feed from Cole Johnson (6a, 5gb) and buried it in the top left corner from seven yards. Two minutes later Drew Douglas (5g, 5gb) scored an solo shot and the Wolverines seemed on their way 2-0. Both teams felt a little out of sorts, but five first quarter saves by the Wolverines'  Austin Boyd masked their defense's lack of rhythm.  Halfway through the period, Brandon Dean took a feed from Quinn Moody as he was cutting down the seam and put the Vikings on the board. Next, Alex Larson beat Boyd 1-on-1, and the game was tied 2-2.  After each squad added another goal, the first quarter ended in a 3-3 tie.

In the 2nd, the tempo problems continued as both teams' offenses appeared skilled, but never really clicked. Curtis longpoles started to assert their power, led by seniors Mitch Homeyer and Cory Monaghan.  Douglas tallied another, and the Vikings' Air Force-bound midfielder Colby Carr added an EMO goal and the half ended 4-4.

The waters of Puget Sound glistened in the sunset and the tide seemed to change in the 3rd period. Bellevue's faceoff team consistently delivered the rock to the offense and they dominated time of possession. Curtis keeper Tony Nigh stood on his head, rejecting shots from near and far, keeping Bellevue at bay. But Johnson fed three scorers in the period and the Blue Man Group went up 8-4. With four minutes left in the 3rd, the Vikings' first offensive threat of the period produces when junior attackman Carson Stewart (3g) rockets one into the twine. Bellevue's Johnson-to-Douglas tandem delivers once more and the quarter ends with Bellevue up 8-5.

Down by three, the Curtis defense started the 4th quarter with renewed aggression and hunger. But Bellevue's middies handled the threat with their best ball control of the game. Nigh shut them out again but Bellevue was able to garner rebound after rebound. The long lost rhythm was found, with the inevitability of Beethoven's Death March.  The ball movement was stellar and frustrating as the clock slowly disappeared, dragging the Viking's hopes along with it. Stewart delivered a shot to pull his team within two with five minutes to go. But Bellevue's Johnson and Hank Bethke literally run the clock out behind the net, and the Wolverines load an 8-6 victory into their bus for the ride home.

Curtis ends the year 11-6, and with 12 seniors on their roster, will need to do a major reload for next season. But with their JV coming off a solid two-loss season the cupboards aren't exactly bare, and Coach Scott Bloom will certainly have them firing on all cylinders.

Bellevue moves on to a Wednesday rematch of last year's State Title game, with a 7pm faceoff at Mercer Island. The Islanders notched a two goal victory over Bellevue back in March and are riding an 11 game winning streak. The Wolverines are anxious to prove that last year was no fluke, and their young guns will come in with a full season now under their belts. I can't imagine a reason why you would miss this game.

Players of the Game

Curtis

Carson Stewart (3g)

Tony Nigh (20 saves)

Bellevue

Drew Douglas (5g, 5gb)

Cole Johnson (6a, 5gb)

Issaquah's Eagles Nest Devours Tacoma Lions 18-5

After seeing the previous division I playoff games, Issaquah’s match-up against some of the leagues top scorers and on the high end of average points per game, may be what appears as a usual Southwest vs. Northeast conference match-up.  After MI’s drubbing of SW stalwart Kings Way, BI dominating Eastside Catholic, and the narrow escape Bellevue made from Curtis, the usual SW vs. NE match-up may boil down to the big four, the usual suspects.  In fact, it would be the case for Issaquah versus Tacoma – the Lions were declawed in the Eagles Nest.

It started from the beginning, with a Kevin Powers ground ball, leading the way to a score.  Fritz scored after a turnover on a feed from Hatcher.  Another transition goal from Ben Director to Jake Fritz made the count 3-0 before McCleod found Bolek for Tacoma’s first blood.  Fritz’ unselfish play drew Ashton Ritchie for not one, but two connections, making the body count 6-1.  Tacoma’s duo of McLeod and Bolek connected again for the only other answer in the first.  Issaquah ended the quarter with a Matt O’Neil goal from Ritchie, ending the first quarter 7-2 Issaquah.

The second quarter, lit the Eagle powder keg on offense, as Powers scored first – again.  Powers then found O’Neil  for another goal on EMO, and the flood gates opened for four more goals.   Kole Lindor  found net helped by Fritz, O’Neil capped another goal on EMO, Fritz got one for himself after fighting through from behind the cage.  Hoffman had a nice grab on the crease for another score, on a rebound.  Issaquah’s lead after amassing 6 goals, 13-2.   Tacoma scored one more time from Max Jones.  As the half drew to a close, Issaquah’s effort meant a 13-3 lead.

First goal of the second half came from Issaquah’s Matt O’Neil, and just inside the first two minutes.  Clearly controlling the possession time, and benefiting from the penalty box, Issaquah, though not polished, still dominated.  Issaquah worked hard on controlling the crease battle on offense, before Tacomas Beezer caught a right handed pass on a fast break, switched hands, fired across cage, and found McLeod for goal number four.  Hatcher followed fed from Powers across the cage for number 15 and Freshman Julian Ritchie buried a goal fed by – you guessed it – Jake Fritz.  At the end of three, Issaquah led 17-4.

Powers started the final quarter with a goal.  Daniel Call helped Tacoma in a losing effort for the 5^th and final goal for Tacoma.  Ben Director put the nail in the coffin on an alley dodge with the right hand, final score, and 18-5 routing by Issaquah – who will be going to Bainbridge on Wednesday for the right to go to the Championship next weekend.

Players of the Game

Kevin Powers 4g 2a

Jake Fritz 2g 4a

Ashton Ritchie 3g 1a

Connor Mcleod 2g 1a

Rega 12 saves