State Bound!!!
After coming one win short of qualifying for State in its inaugural 2013 season, 2014 began with boundless optimism. Bellevue’s young squad returned all but one varsity athlete. Several Wolverines spent the offseason training with club water polo teams. Talented freshman were ready to contribute. Even after two former starters were unable to play at the last minute, the Wolverines got off to a fast start. Through the first round of league games, Bellevue was tied for first. Many believed that a ticket to State was all but assured.
Not so fast. Just when the program was ready to take off, the injury bug hit. Shoulder problems, head injuries and major illnesses forced seven of 12 varsity starters to miss significant time. Two athletes were lost for the season. As depth dwindled, losses mounted. Still, the Wolverines held tough and earned the North Division’s final spot in the State Wild Card Tournament. And last weekend, despite the many setbacks and challenges, the Wolverines did what no Bellevue team has done since 2005: qualified for State!
As the North Division’s #4 seed, the Wolverines were placed into Bracket A with Puyallup (South #3), Auburn-Riverside (East #3) and Peninsula (West #4). Bellevue had two paths to State: win Bracket A in group play or win one of two winner-to-state, loser-out cross-over games with Bracket B. The Wolverines entered the tournament without starters Nina Stash and Alexis Taber and reserves Lucy Stokes and Alexandria Simmons. But with junior co-captain Julie Mao back from injury and freshman JV call-up Sophia Schmid ready to contribute, Bellevue was up for the challenge.
Puyallup 10, Bellevue 7
Up first: Puyallup. The Vikings entered the Wild Card as the favorite to win Bracket A, but the Wolverines were ready to put up a fight.
Early in the first quarter, senior Sophie Quynn earned the first of her game-high four ejections drawn. Freshman Morgan Baker connected on the ensuing 6-on-5 advantage to give Bellevue a 1-0 lead. Puyallup answered with 4:40 in the period, but Baker scored with 1:33 remaining in the first to put Bellevue up 2-1. Puyallup scored the first two goals of the second quarter before the teams traded goals. With 3:00 to play in the third, sophomore Maggie Ugelstad collected her third ejection, forcing the Wolverines to play Ironman (no subs) for the remainder of the game. Bellevue responded with two quick goals to bring the game to within one, but ran out of gas in the fourth as Puyallup pulled away.
Senior co-captain Sierra Anderson posted nine saves. Baker led the offense with five goals. Mao added three ejections drawn and two assists. Sophomore Lisa Courtney had two assists in the loss.
Auburn-Riverside 4, Bellevue 3 (3OT)
On Saturday morning, the Wolverines returned to the pool to face Auburn-Riverside, the East Division’s #3 seed. With freshman Sarah Harrison unavailable due to a school obligation, the Wolverines found themselves with just one sub. Undeterred, Bellevue grabbed a 1-0 first quarter lead thanks to a Baker goal. The second and third quarters proved to be defensive battles. Both teams managed just one goal; Bellevue’s coming on a Baker 6-on-5 opportunity. In the fourth, Auburn-Riverside scored two straight to build a 3-2 lead. After a Bellevue timeout with 3:09 remaining, sophomore Maggie Ugelstad converted a post-up shot to even the game at 3-3. With 1:43 to go, Baker collected her third ejection and was lost for the game. The Wolverines were able to hold the Ravens scoreless down the stretch, but the prospect of playing Ironman in overtime was worrisome.
Then, on the first possession of overtime, Ugelstad collected her third ejection of the game. With no healthy subs, injured sophomore Alexis Taber was forced to enter the game. Due to her injury, Taber was reduced to sitting in the corner of the pool away from game action. Playing 5-on-6, the Wolverines could not generate offense. It felt like a matter of time before the Ravens broke through. Nevertheless, the Wolverines played great defense and stretched the game into sudden death. But with 0:01 remaining in sudden death, the Wolverines finally broke, as Auburn-Riverside’s Charissa Dorn drove and hit the game-winner.
Anderson posted 10 saves and six steals in the effort.
Bellevue 11, Peninsula 4
For most teams, bouncing back after a heart-breaking sudden death loss would be difficult. But with this group of Wolverines, it was no big deal. Of course, it helped that Peninsula was perhaps the only team in the state more depleted than itself. The Seahawks admirably played the entire tournament with just seven players. And for most of the game, Peninsula played man-down after one of its players received a game ejection.
Ugelstad led Bellevue with five goals as Bellevue cruised to victory. Baker added three, while Schmid and senior co-captain Sophie Pasewark added one each. With the win, Bellevue advanced to face Bainbridge Island in the tournament’s final winner-to-state, loser-out game.
Bellevue 6, Bainbridge Island 3
For the second straight year, Bellevue found itself in the final winner-to-state, loser-out contest. Last year, Bellevue fell to Stadium 14-7. This year, the Wolverines were determined to write a different script. Despite missing two starters and several key bench players, despite the tough losses to Puyallup and Auburn-Riverside, despite the fact that they had lost to Bainbrige 7-3 less than 10 days earlier, the Wolverines refused to lose.
Baker got the Wolverines on the board early with a goal at 5:59 in the first quarter. After the Spartans answered, Mao converted a 6-on-5 opportunity to put Bellevue on top 2-1. With 1:18 left in the first, Baker scored on another 6-on-5 advantage to put the Wolverines up 3-1. Bainbridge answered early in the second on an Amanda Sellman goal. After a Bellevue timeout with 3:51 left in the half, Baker converted on a drive to put Bellevue up 4-2. Bainbridge scored early in the third to narrow the lead to one goal. With 1:19 left in the third, Bellevue called a timeout, setting up Baker’s fourth and final goal of the game. Then, with 5:22 remaining in the game, sophomore Lisa Courtney scored on a quick shot following Mao’s ejection drawn for the game’s final score. Bainbridge mustered several shots down the stretch, but Anderson came up huge and turned them all away.
With the win, Bellevue advanced to this week’s State Tournament, where it will face Gig Harbor and Enumclaw on Wednesday in opening round play.
