WASH BOYS: DI Semis: Issaquah Edges Bainbridge in OT, 5-4
May 28th, 2009
Sophomore middie Kevin Powers scored the game-winning goal with 2:13 remaining in overtime to give No. 15 Issaquah a 5-4 victory over No. 21 Bainbridge Island in a Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association Division I semifinal Wednesday night.
Powers scored with a low bounce-shot from about seven yards after he drove left and then wheeled back around. His goal set off a wild celebration, as Issaquah students stormed the field and piled on top of Powers, whose goal came on the fourth possession of the extra period.
It was Powers’ only goal of the game.
“Obviously, we’re excited,” Issaquah head coach Brandon Fortier said. “It was a roller-coaster of emotions. Both teams had several chances to win it late and in overtime. I’m just proud of our guys for sticking it out and continuing to battle.”
Junior attackman Todd Jones scored a co-game-high two goals, and sneior middie Jake Director, senior long-stick middie Connor McClain and Powers all scored once for Issaquah (18-2), which has won nine straight.
In defeat, senior attackman Sam Snow scored twice, and senior middie Bjorn Ostensen and senior middie Kevin Nguyen each added a goal for Bainbridge Island, which finished the season 14-4.
Bainbridge Island led 2-1 at the end of the first quarter and 3-2 at halftime before Issaquah came back to take a 4-3 lead after three quarters.
Ostensen scored the only goal of the fourth quarter with 6:46 remaining to force overtime.
With the victory, Issaquah advanced to the state championship game and will face No. 9 Mercer Island on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., PDT, at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. Mercer Island won the teams’ only regular-season meeting, 6-4, on April 24.
Issaquah will be going for its second straight state title.
“We’re just thrilled it’s Mercer Island,” Fortier said. “They’re our one league loss, and we’re excited to have another shot at them. We wouldn’t have it any other way. May the best team win.”
