On Saturday, April 26, the Jesuit women’s lacrosse team traveled to Seattle to take on the Mercer Island Islanders. After a close 8-7 loss to the Grant Generals the previous week, the Crusaders were eager to bounce back with a dominant win.
Mercer Island had been the powerhouse of Washington for lacrosse, winning four state titles over the past four years. However, earlier this season they tied with their rival, Seattle Prep—a team the Crusaders had defeated 13-9.
The game opened with a tightly contested first quarter, as both teams traded possessions and goals. The Islanders’ zone defense posed an early challenge for the Crusaders, who rarely faced that style of play. Jesuit also suffered three yellow cards in the opening quarter—two for checks to the head in the midfield and one for a dangerous shot.
Following a timeout called by Coach Lakey, the Crusaders adjusted their defensive approach, emphasizing on-body defense through the midfield for the remainder of the game. With one more yellow card potentially putting them man-down for the rest of the match, discipline became key.
By the end of the first quarter, Jesuit began to find its rhythm on offense, effectively possessing the ball and finding open teammates.
Senior and team captain Quinny Handley explained how the team remained composed on attack, especially against the unfamiliar zone defense:
“With a zone defense, it was harder to possess the ball because there was always someone open. We had to find a balance between possessing the ball and scoring off of quick passes, Handley said. “Our attack was good at creating opportunities for each other and finding the open person.”
In the second quarter, the Crusaders began to control the draw, frustrating the Islanders and forcing them to adjust their tactics. Gigi Abernethy proved adaptable at the draw circle, countering every strategy Mercer Island threw her way. Meanwhile, Hazel Mackey was a force in the midfield, dominating on the circle and in transition. Her aggressive drives through the defense earned multiple 8-meter opportunities—two of which she converted into goals.
Mackey shared how possession helped the team maintain composure.
“The transition in the midfield was more composed than other games because we were not rushing our passes or trying to make them long or unrealistic,” Mackey said. We really took our time and didn't get frantic when we were running it down the field.”
In the third quarter, Jesuit pulled ahead on offense, scoring multiple goals to gain a two-goal lead heading into the fourth. On defense, they continued to shine, applying pressure outside the 8-meter and limiting the Islanders’ scoring chances.
The fourth quarter proved to be the turning point. The Crusaders won nearly every draw and held possession for most of the quarter. They outscored the Islanders 3-1 in the final 12 minutes. With four minutes remaining, the Crusader defense, along with goalie Lanie Knight, effectively stalled the ball in the backfield, denying the Islanders any real opportunity to regain possession.
Knight reflected on how patience on the clears helped seal the win.
“As a team we have gotten more comfortable holding the ball and waiting for the right opportunity,” Knight said. “We have learned that it is not helpful to rush and that it is necessary to be patient. In previous games we have gotten the ball out quickly and it has been turned over.”
Jesuit came away with a 17-13 victory, leaving Seattle on a high note after taking down the reigning state champions. The Crusaders begin their run for the Metro League title this coming week, with Senior Night scheduled for May 8.
