Mercer Island faces Issaquah in semis | Boys lacrosse

In a rematch of last year’s state finals, the Mercer Island boys lacrosse team will face Issaquah tonight in the state semifinals. The Islanders beat Curtis 19-1 in the quarterfinals on Friday night.

In a rematch of last year’s state finals, the Mercer Island boys lacrosse team will face Issaquah tonight in the state semifinals. The Islanders beat Curtis 19-1 in the quarterfinals on Friday night.

Mercer Island quickly racked up a 4-1 lead in the first quarter and added seven goals in the second for an 11-1 lead at the half. An additional six goals in the third and two more in the final minutes of the game sealed the Islanders’ trip to the state semifinals.

Matt Shields had three goals during the game, while Steven Taylor added three of his own. Jonathan Wettack had two goals, and Travis Leung added his own two, as did Connor Bernal and Colton Knebel. Hap Giraud had four saves for the Islanders, and Tucker Vassu had two saves.

It was the fourth game this season in which the Islanders scored a season high of 19 goals, and the 15th time that Mercer Island beat its opponent by more than 10 goals.

The team will face Issaquah at Mercer Island High School on Wednesday night. The Eagles are two-time defending state champions who beat the Islanders in last year’s state finals by one point.

The game will begin at 8 p.m. The winner advances to Saturday’s state championship game at Memorial Stadium.

The winner of the Mercer Island/Issaquah game will play the winner of the Bainbridge/Bellevue game for the state title.