Throughout the season, the Bellevue East girls lacrosse team had its sights set on a Division I state playoff berth.

Coach Craig Van Der Horn’s squad accomplished that goal, and after winning its first round game came within a single goal of punching a state semifinal ticket before falling 10-9 to Issaquah in the quarterfinals.

“We were just incredibly proud of their performance,” Van Der Horn said, noting his team lost a lopsided game against the same Issaquah team earlier in the season. “They really stepped up to the occasion.”

BELAX led 7-5 after the first quarter, before three Issaquah goals pulled them even and forced overtime. Bellevue East pulled even in the second overtime period, before a goal from Issaquah’s Suzy Emerson with only five seconds left gave the Eagles the win.

The loss ends the season for Bellevue East, and puts a cap on the career of standout Camille Sullivan, a Princeton commit who finished with four goals.

“Her competitiveness and supportiveness to the other players really helped everyone,” Van Der Horn said. “Having her positivity down the stretch, and the confidence in her teammates, really helped us to go over the top.”

The playoff appearance was the first for BELAX since it won the Division II girls state title in 2011.

Emily Hilliyard added four more goals for BELAX in the loss, and goalie Angela Navas finished with six saves.