Bellevue drops MI, 16-14
On a blustery Tuesday afternoon at Woodridge Pool, the Bellevue Wolverines survived a second-half comeback to defeat Mercer Island 16-14. The early season contest featured the Kingco Division’s two undefeated teams.
Freshman Cameron Hayes put the Wolverines on the board first with an outside shot on the game’s third possession. A few possessions later, junior Marco Stanchi snuck a two-meter sweep shot past MI goalie Hunter Peshkin to put Bellevue up by two. Islander sophomore Ford Witman answered soon after with an outside shot to cut the Bellevue lead to 2-1. Two possessions later, senior co-captain George French found Stanchi on a fast-break to put the Wolverines up 3-1. Late in the first quarter, Stanchi earned an ejection in two-meters, leading to a Scott Bowers man-up goal with two seconds left in the quarter. Unfortunately, Mercer Island took full advantage of those two seconds when Islander junior Topher Lacrampe fired a half-court buzzer-beater into the upper corner to narrow the gap to 4-2.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern to the first. Bellevue scored four goals – three from French and one from Stanchi – while the Islanders answered with two, including another last second goal, this time off a tipped-shot from freshman Erik Raisys at the buzzer.
Leading 8-4 at half, the Wolverines’ defense faltered during the third quarter. Mercer Island took advantage of several Wolverine defensive breakdowns to score seven goals. Bellevue did post three goals in the quarter – one each from junior Josh Rehder, senior co-captain Stu McClelland and Hayes – but a third Islander buzzer beater, this time a full pool re-direct tip-in from senior Chris Apodaca, left the game tied at 11-11 entering the fourth quarter.
With the Islanders employing a drop to open the fourth quarter, the Wolverines responded by scoring on its first four possessions. Hayes scored twice, while junior Liam Naughton and French added goals. Mercer Island put up a late rally and closed the gap to 14-12. But with the game on the line, French and Rehder hit two clutch shots late in the final period to secure the Bellevue victory.
Hayes and French led the offense with four goals each. Stanchi added three goals one two steals. Moffatt tallied eight saves to lead the defense.
Bellevue (5-3) returns to action on Thursday against Roosevelt at 8:45pm at Helene Madison.
