Wolverines, Islanders battle to a stalemate on the soccer field

Rivalry showdown ends in a draw.

By Shaun Scott • March 24, 2018 10:43 pm
Photo courtesy of Patrick Krohn/Patrick Krohn Photography Bellevue sophomore Jed Michael, right, and Mercer Island midfielder Luca Mtskhetadze, left, battle for possession of the ball. Bellevue and Mercer Island battled to a 0-0 tie on March 23 in Bellevue.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Krohn/Patrick Krohn Photography Bellevue sophomore Jed Michael, right, and Mercer Island midfielder Luca Mtskhetadze, left, battle for possession of the ball. Bellevue and Mercer Island battled to a 0-0 tie on March 23 in Bellevue.

Not even 90 minutes of soccer could decide a winner in a KingCo 3A/2A showdown between the Bellevue Wolverines and Mercer Island Islanders boys soccer teams.

The Wolverines and Islanders battled to a 0-0 draw in a matchup between rivals on March 23 at Bellevue High School. Neither team recorded a goal during 80 minutes of regulation or the two five-minute overtime sessions. Bellevue has an overall record of 1-1-2.

Bellevue and Mercer Island were evenly matched and both squads had solid opportunities to find the back of the net throughout the duration of the contest. In the final minute of the second overtime session, Mercer Island midfielder Dakota Promet unleashed a solid shot on the ground from about 20 yards out but it was saved by Bellevue goalie Jackson Buck. With 11 minutes left in regulation, Mercer Island midfielder Hunter Bauman nearly scored on a header but the ball deflected off of the near post and into the hands of Buck.

Bellevue’s best chance to score occurred in the second overtime session. Mercer Island’s goalie was caught out of the goal and the net was open. Bellevue junior Sebastian Scrivner took a shot but a Mercer Island defender covered for his goalie, blocking the shot’s path to the net before clearing the ball safely.

Bellevue head coach Ron Feary was proud of Buck’s performance between the posts.

“He was so steady. He had a lot of opportunities today and he held his own for sure. He was there to win the ball when it was in his area,” Feary said of Buck.

Capturing a tie against the Islanders was a huge moment for the Wolverines.

“Mercer Island is always a top team and always a leader in our league. They have a good coaching staff and have good players. We held our own against them. I thought it was a pretty even game,” Feary said.

The strength of the Wolverines roster in 2018 is its defense. Bellevue’s undisputed team leader is Scrivner (center defender).

“He does a good job of leading the team, holding them together and giving good direction. We have quite a solid defense. We have a young team and only have two seniors but is definitely a good developmental year and we are holding our own so far,” Feary said.