Issaquah Blitzes Bainbridge Early For 8-6 Win

ISSAQUAH- The Issaquah Eagles blitzes a flat footed Bainbridge squad in the first half to seal a commanding win over the top ranked Spartans.  A stingy, well disciplined defense led the way, while Bainbridge was left playing catch up in the second half. Each team sensed the importance of tonight's match-up and came out with high energy.  The first big play came with Issaquah pushing an unsettled attack on the cage, but Spartan goalie Julian Skotheim-Hillis stuffed the doorstep shot.

On the ensuing play, Bainbridge got an EMO on a holding call.  The Spartans spun the ball and on a wide open look Issaquah goalie O'Neill Hughes stuffed the shooter on the doorstep.  The game showed the early signs of becoming a defensive battle.  Bainbridge maintained possession for nearly seven minutes with no goals and several deflected shots.  Issaquah's defense was tight and responsive.  With less than a minute to play in the first quarter, Alex Crane isolated behind and dodged through two defenders and faked out Hughes for the first goal of the night.  Spartans led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Issaquah opened up the second quarter with an EMO, but failed to capitalize.  The Eagles would go on to dictate tempo this quarter.  In a nice individual effort, Duncan Hamilton ripped a shot that bounced off Skotheim-Hillis and into the net to even up the game.  Issaquah's ride kicked in a caused two failed Spartan clears.  After more back and forth action Issaquah went on a scoring spree with four different players finding the net- Ashton Ritchie, Matt O'Neil, Kevin Powers and Jake Fritz.  Bainbridge's goal line extended defense and clearing game proved to be weak points as Issaquah led 5-1 at halftime.

Immediately out of the gates, Issaquah continued their scoring spree as Powers fed O'Neil, scoring his second of the night.  Powers found the net again right after.  An aggressive take away defense pestered the Spartan ball handlers, but the Spartans did not give way.  Bainbridge snapped the spree with an empty net goal by Alex Rabin.  On the next play, Keagan Ingrasci found Cam Parker up top who blasted the top right to trail the Eagles 7-3.  Several yard sales and big hits reflected the intensity of both teams as crowd picked became even more boisterous.  Skotheim-Hillis made an amazing point blank save on O'Neil to end the quarter, as the Eagles led 8-3.  

Bainbridge emerged with some new energy in the final quarter, as Jacob Goodman found Jacob Knostman who spun around for a crease goal to cut the deficit in half.  More clearing issues for the Spartans blew possession opportunities.  Sticks and bodies flew back and forth resembling an ancient battlefield with both goalies playing well into the final quarter.  Bainbridge's chances for coming back appeared to dwindle, the tough Eagle defense kept the usually high scoring Spartans at bay.  They would get two more goals from Crane and Rabin, but ran out of time to mount any sort of substantial comeback.  Issaquah won 8-6.

Players of the Game:

Kevin Powers- 2g, 1a

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