Issaquah Notes:
Issaquah 3-2-1-3- 9
Skyline 2-5-1-6- 14

Not the result or the weather the Issaquah contingent had hoped for, but much to be proud of and a good fight 'til the end.

Game started well as Jordan Snoey made the game's first save and Spencer Blumenthal opened the scoring off the ensuing slow transition. Skyline responded within a minute before game slowed down. At the 4 minute mark, Tyler Morton slipped one in low on a nifty flip from TJ Victory. In stride, Skyline responded again, similarly slipping one in low themselves. KJ Lewis would close the quarter with a deep shot that caught the benefit of a screen to find the back of the net. 3-2 Issaquah after one.

Spartans tied it again early in the 2nd and scored two more unanswered to take a 5-3 lead 4 minutes into the quarter. Having struggled at the faceoff X, Cale Gunter found the energy to bring Issaquah back with two solo efforts. The second came from the faceoff after a hard fought win, managing to power is way free of two defenders he put in a lefty snipe past the keeper. Game tied 5-5 halfway through the quarter.

Key moments in the last 5 minutes of the half ultimately swung the game. Issaquah got a stop and pushed transition, despite the failing to capitalize, Blumenthal picked off an ensuing clearing pass and had ball right in front of cage, but lost the handle. A scramble ensued and Issaquah came out with it, but rather than settle, the took an immediate shot which was saved. The immediate outlet put Skyline on its own break the other way, catching Issaquah out of breath and out of position to finish the break.

Now trailing by just one, Issaquah again got a save from Snoey, but ball rebounded outside the crease. As Snoey lunged to cover it, defense did as they should and cleared the crease to allow Snoey to pick it up. A very tough 'push' call gave the ball back to Skyline for a final possession. Again, Issaquah was stout and put the ball on the ground but couldn't come up with the groundball. Skyline did and hit cutter down back pipe to score with two seconds left in half. That two goal margin was big as it was one Issaquah to never get closer than again.

Majority of 3rd and 4th quarters saw Skyline play a solid patient offense why Issaquah found it tough to get any rhythm. Skyline extended to a three goal lead, Issaquah responded. 8-6 Skyline into the 4th.

Two more times Skyline would extend the lead to three and in each case, Issaquah responded to keep it a two goal margin. But Issaquah just couldn't take advantage of any opportunity they had to get it back to one. Was still just a two goal game with just under two minutes to play at 11-9, but Issaquah had to press and Skyline handled it with ease, getting two empty netters to provide the final margin.

In the end, Skyline's stout defense, athleticism and work on the faceoffs were better than Issaquah's and sophomore, Nick Vermeulen was the key difference maker on the offensive end. Kudos to the Spartans on a well deserved title.