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Soccer Cats Defeat Lincoln West; North Royalton Up Next on Saturday

By Gianluca DiGiacomo '22, 10/26/19, 11:15AM EDT

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The Saint Ignatius Wildcats matched up against a more challenging team than they’ve had to face in recent weeks as they took on the Lincoln West Wolverines on a chilly Wednesday evening at Wasmer Field.

The Wildcats didn’t have a typical lineup, as Nolan Bartolone and Theo Kudlo were out for the game. Luciano Pechota and Gavan Richards filled the spots in the Starting XI.

Before the game, Coach Jim Brennan ‘85 gave an incredible speech to his players, making even me, a broadcaster, feel the need to run through a wall; a truly electrifying speech.

The atmosphere was very good, parents from both sides flooded the stands and the Wildcats had a good student section as both teams took the field.

The game started as the Wildcats came out, guns blazing. Pressure was as intense as ever in the opening minutes. The Wildcats already had a few goal-scoring chances just 5 minutes into the game.

About 12 minutes into the first half, the Cats brought a dangerous counter-attack down the line. Defender Ryan Notarianni sprinted down the field and played a wonderful cross right into the possession of senior captain Matthew McLaughlin. The senior was right in front of the goal, and he kept his composure and slipped it through and into the goal, as the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead early on.

About 10 minutes later, the Wildcats got another one. Wolverines keeper Karma Singdhan attempted to play a short pass to his center back, but striker Everett Shorey caught them sleeping. He intercepted the pass and belted the ball into the bottom corner, as the Cats were then up with a 2-0 lead.

The halftime whistle blew with the Cats enjoying a comfortable 2-0 lead against Lincoln West.

Make no mistake, Lincoln West was a solid side in the first half. When they had the chance, the Wildcats really did well to keep possession and move their way up the field, but all of that was overwritten by the pure incredible defending prowess from the Wildcats.

The second half began, and the Wildcats were surprisingly more intense than the first half. Just 12 minutes in, Matthew McLaughlin made a great run past the defenders on the left side of the pitch and hit the ball with admirable precision past the keeper for a 3-0 lead.

Just eight minutes later, Ryan Notarianni chipped another ball into the center into the feet of Everett Shorey. The senior turned around and drilled it past the keeper. The Wildcats were bringing this game farther and farther out of reach for the Wolverines.

Another 8 minutes later, Ryan Roberts played in a cross as it soars over the middle, but Matthew McLaughlin was in the right position yet again. McLaughlin brought the ball under control and belted the ball into the upper netting of the goal, as he finished with an astonishing hat trick.

The final whistle blew, and the Wildcats are headed into the District Final against the North Royalton Bears, a physical team that defeated our rivals the Saint Edward Eagles, 3-2.

The Cats will play on Saturday night at Byers Field at 7 pm, after the football team faces the Saint Xavier Bombers at 3 pm. Come support the Cats!