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State Championship Soccer Preview: Saint Ignatius vs. St. Charles

By Eddie Dwyer, 11/12/16, 3:15PM EST

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Posted By Mr. Eddie Dwyer

Here is glance at the St. Charles Prep Cardinals (21-0-1), who face Saint Ignatius (20-0-2) in Sunday evening's OHSAA Division I State Championship Soccer Match at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The first touch is 7 PM.

The Soccer Cardinals of St. Charles Prep are making their first appearance in the OHSAA State Championship game, while the Wildcats of Coach Mike McLaughlin '85 are the two-time defending and record seven-time State Champions.

Saint Ignatius, the top-ranked team in Ohio by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and the No. 1-ranked  program nationally in both the USA Today Super 25 and the Top Drawer Soccer SIMA Fab 50, will take an unbeaten streak of 58 consecutive matches into Sunday's title showdown. The Soccer Cats are seeking what would be an OHSAA record third consecutive Boys State Soccer Championship.  

St. Charles Prep finished second to the Wildcats in the final OSSCA State Poll for 2016 and the Cardinals carry national rankings of ninth by USA Today and 14th by Top Drawer Soccer.

Defender Ryan Huelsman helped lead the Cardinals to their first Division I State Championship match by assisting on two goals on set throw-ins in Wednesday night's 2-1, State-Semifinal victory over Beavercreek at Xenia High School. Beavercreek, ranked fifth in Ohio, closed its season at 19-2-1, with both of its setbacks coming to St. Charles Prep.  

Charlie Marshall's header less than four minutes into the second half and a goal by Ian Smith were among the major Cardinal highlights in the triumph over Beavercreek. Smith's score, which gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, also came off a header and was the result of one of Huelsman's throw-ins.

St. Charles Prep keeper Chase Sanders finished with nine saves to help preserve the victory.

Another Cardinal to watch is Kristo Strickler. The senior forward scored all three goals in the 3-1 Regional Championship victory over Dublin Coffman on November 5 at Hilliard Bradley High School.

Strickler's hat trick secured what was St. Charles Prep's first Regional title since 1991, when the Cardinals were a Division II program.