The Varsity News released Episode 35 including highlights of Puyallup vs Stadium as well as action from the previous Game of the Week, Skyline at Mercer.

The Division I Stroll…

• Biggest stories from the week that was:
• Best game of the week had to be the OT thriller between Bellevue and Issaquah. Bellevue continued its marvelous season by defeating Issaquah for the first time since 2007. A 4-4 stalemate midway through the 3^rd quarter broke into a shootout the rest of the way. Bellevue scored two at the end of the period to seemingly take momentum and control of the game. The last goal in the quarter stood as the 3^rd straight quarter in which they scored with less than 2 seconds in the period. Issaquah somehow found life and scored three straight to start the fourth and take momentum right back. After trading goals, Issaquah maintained an 8-7 lead with less than 2 minutes to play. Bellevue’s Cole Nordtrom kept the Wolverines alive though and only an Issaquah save at the buzzer put the game into overtime. The Wolverines won the face-off and Issaquah would never see the ball in the extra period. On their third attack towards net, Nordstrom found Brett Mennella open on the high crease for the game winner. The win assures Bellevue of a first round bye and a #1 or #2 seed entering the playoffs. It also sets up what will most likely be a huge undefeated showdown with Mercer Island to close the regular season.
• The next big mover and shaker this week is the Lakeside Lions. Sten Jernudd led the rejuvenated group to a big win over Northshore. His 6 goals, 2 assists and 11 groundballs helped spark a 12 goal first half for the Lions. From there, they held on for a 16-12 win and put themselves in great position to clinch a playoff berth this week. The loss puts a big hurt on the Wisman boys and company as they now must face Bellevue with their playoff hopes on the line.
• Skyline overtook Overlake for 4^th place in the Northeast Conference by pulling out an 11-10 overtime victory on Saturday afternoon. Spencer Matches did his part winning the faceoffs and 17 groundballs while the scoring was well spread. Max Saffle led with 3 goals as Connor Brandt, Jack Pruitt and Daniel Christianson each tallied twice.
• Puyallup knocked King’s Way out of the top spot in the Southwest Conference while grabbing hold of 3^rd place themselves. Thomas Brook scooped 12 more groundballs to stay just behind Skyline’s Spencer Matches for the overall league lead. Six different players scored for the Panthers including netminder Zach Steedman! It was Steedman’s 2^nd goal of the season. He tallied his first last week against Stadium (a highlight of the goal can be seen on Episode 35 of The Varsity News).

• Playoff Picture:
• NORTHEAST CONFERENCE

#1. Mercer Island or Bellevue – This week’s game will decide it

#2. Mercer Island or Bellevue – This week’s game will decide it

#3. Issaquah – Will clinch the 3^rd spot with one more win

#4. Skyline – Two tough games left (Issaquah and Lakeside) in attempting to hold the 4^th spot.

#5. Overlake – Skyline hold tie-break now, so Overlake must finish with more wins than the Spartans to move up and earn a home playoff game.

#6. Lakeside – Lions control their own destiny and will likely just need one win (face Eastlake and Skyline) to clinch (assuming Bellevue beats Northshore)

• SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

#1. Bainbridge – Despite all their so called “down year”, a win over Seattle Prep clinches the top spot in the Southwest

#2. King’s Way – Need only win one of last two games to clinch #2 seed and Lake Tapps is next on the schedule.

#3. Puyallup – Curtis and Northshore left so the #3 seed certainly isn’t safe.

#4. Curtis – If they can beat Puyallup and at least finish tied they would earn the #3 by virtue of head-to-head win.

#5. Tacoma – Regular season is complete. Lions have clinched the #5 spot and will travel to Northeast #4 in first round of playoffs.

#6. Stadium – Hold the advantage over Seattle Prep by virtue of head-to-head win and have a favorable schedule in closing with Lake Tapps and Vashon.

• Standout Stats:
• Trevor Olson, SR, Eastlake and the entire Eastlake Defense – Despite a 6-3 loss to Mercer, Olson made 17 saves and the Wolves held the Islanders to their lowest scoring output of the season! A job well done to a much improved Eastlake squad.
• Sten Jernudd and Hector Rhodes, Lakeside – The talented senior midfield duo is finally on the field together and producing like many thought they would. In two games this week, Jernudd registered 11 goals, 5 assists, 16 groundballs while Rhodes recorded 6 goals, 5 assists, 15 groundballs to lead the Lions to two big victories and put them on the cusp on reaching the playoffs.
• Jeff Tungsvik, SR, Puyallup – The attackman tied his career high 7 points with a new career high 6 goal sock trick to lead the Panthers over King’s Way.

• Best match-ups of the upcoming week:
• 5/11 Issaquah @ Skyline – Inter district rivalry has much bigger implications this year for Skyline, but the Quah needs the win to secure 3^rd place.
• 5/12 Puyallup @ Curtis – Battle in the south end should ultimately determine 3^rd and 4^th place in the Southwest.
• 5/14 Bellevue @ Mercer Island – A possible State Championship preview, #1 and undefeated league season on the line… Does it get any bigger or better than this?

The D2 Stroll…

• Biggest stories from the week that was:
• As expected, round two of Lynnwood vs Snohomish was another classic. A high scoring affair, despite the fact that both keepers made at least 15 saves, saw all the top names produce for both sides. The Tigers were led by Tindall, Knowles and Girgus while for the Panthers it was Hund, Pedersen and Todd. Nathan Wirtz did his thing at the faceoff “x” for Snohomish winning 20 groundballs, but Lynnwood stuck the final one in the cage to take the 17-16 victory. The win should give the Tigers the Cascade Conference title by virtue of the season sweep of Snohomish (assuming Lynnwood wraps up the regular season by taking care of Silver Lake).
• Blanchet made sure that the lingering potential drama in the Metro was just sideline chatter by destroying Garfield, 15-2. Even more impressive is that the Braves did so without top scorer, Dylan Evans. Instead, Connor Black, Luke Ninteman and Zane Zielke each stepped up with hat-tricks. The win secures the Metro title for the Braves and a #1 seed entering the playoffs.
• Congratulations to Gig Harbor and Providence for each making the playoffs as a first year program. Though Gig Harbor is the lone true first year program as Providence did have a JV team last season. Also a big shout out to the Wenatchee program! What a difference a year makes. Last season, Wenatchee finished with a 1-11 record and now will enter this year’s playoffs an undefeated 12-0! A great example for any team that struggled this season… next season isn’t too far away… keep working!

• Standout Stats
• Alex Tindall and Trey Knowles, Lynnwood – The senior midfield duo came up big in the biggest game of the year, each recording 9 points in a second win over Snohomish.
• Michael Ausilo, SR, San Juan – The midfielder gobbled a season high 17 groundballs while scoring 3 goals and dishing an assist to help San Juan secure the Skagit title.
• TJ Pulkrabek, SR, South Kitsap – Scored a career high 5 goals in leading the Wolves to win over rival North Kitsap. He also ran down 14 groundballs!

• Best match-ups of the upcoming week (Playoff Schedule is set and posted on Sportability):
• 5/14 Providence @ Blanchet – Providence proved they could run with Lynnwood and Snohomish at times this year. Blanchet beware!
• 5/14 Stanwood @ Sammamish – Lots of red and black as the Spartans travel to the Totems. Interesting match-up pitting physical vs finesse.

Lacrosse The Country…

Greg Mahony (Mercer Island) scored a hat-trick for Yale in the Ivy League semifinals but it wasn’t quite enough to overcome the Princeton Tigers in a narrow 7-6 defeat.

Alex Jacques (Bainbridge) was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference, playing in goal for the playoff bound Colorado St. Rams.

We are confident you know that the Washington Stealth are going to play for the NLL Championship next weekend, but did you know there are several connections with the Stealth to the WHSBLA? Check out the list below:

• Overlake’s assistant coach, Jason Bloom is the Stealth captain
• Defenseman, Chris O’Dougherty has helped coach Bellevue’s defense this season.
• Seattle Prep’s Co-Head Coach, Ian Lee is the Stealth’s equipment manager

Lacrosse Four Thought…

Who do you feel is the best team in Division I that will miss the playoffs?

What are your predictions for the soon to be announced Division I All-State and Division II All-Conference teams?

Will the Stealth claims this year’s NLL trophy?

When was the last time Bellevue beat Mercer Island?

Parting Shots…

· “King’s Way’s record is good this year, but they also don’t have Issaquah, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Skyline or Northshore on their schedules.  Adding those five games to a schedule could really affect the W/L column.  Additionally, since they have Varsity, JV and JVC teams, one would hope they would split those 13 schools they draw from sooner rather than later, and begin a second program in the area.” –Seattle LaxFan

We’ll give a shot to the best emails of the week and include your comments/quotes/etc in next week’s Sunday Stroll.

Time to hear from you! Feed us your thoughts, edits, questions… bring it! EMAIL: TheSundayStroll@gmail.com