Saint Ignatius' prolific senior Garrett Joseph knots the score at 1 with a goal off an assist from Mr. Everywhere Dan Hennessy and Mike Vitale makes two outstanding individual moves in fueling a nine-goal second half.
The Wildcats improve to 16-1 and will take a 10-game winning streak into Saturday's Elite Eight match up at Hudson on Saturday afternoon at either noon or 1:30. Hudson outlasted Solon, 17-16, in Tuesday night's other Sweet 16 encounter. The Explorers handed Saint Ignatius its only loss this season, 17-11 at Hudson on April 23.
*NOTE: According to head varsity lacrosse coach Pat McManamon and the records on Saint Ignatius' Athletics Pages, the all-time best single season in lacrosse was the 18-4 effort by the 1995 team, of which Coach McManamon was a member.
HERE IS THE FULL STORY ON TUESDAY NIGHT'S TRIUMPH OVER JACKSON. SOME BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL NOTES TO CHEW ON FOLLOW THE LACROSSE STORY AND FOR A LOOK AT "THE CREW 'CATS 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION," SEE THE STORY PRESENTED BY WILDCATS HEAD COACH PATRICK CONNOR '94 AND POSTED BY SIBN PRESIDENT JOHN FANTA '13 ON THE CREW ATHLETIC PAGE.
OHIO CITY - Standing near the home stands on Tuesday night, Saint Ignatius senior goalie CJ Haag looked up and took an emotional-expression glance around Wasmer Field.
"I'm going to miss it," CJ said of the atmosphere-rich facility that sits off history-tested Lorain Avenue on the campus of Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School.
And Saint Ignatius and its faithful are going to miss CJ Haag, whose efforts in football and lacrosse truly left a "Men For Others" mark on Wasmer Field and fields across Ohio.
With Haag holding down the fort in goal, Coach Pat McManamon's tough-minded and talented lacrosse team took another major step to its ultimate goal by withstanding the early emotional charge of a very capable Massillon Jackson squad and wearing down the Polar Bears, 10-5, in an Ohio High School Lacrosse Association second round or "Sweet 16" playoff match up.
In going undefeated on Wasmer Field this season, the Lax 'Cats (16-1) advanced to Saturday's OHSLA Elite Eight Round accompanied by their 10th consecutive victory. Saint Ignatius will attempt to avenge its only setback of the spring when it travels to Hudson on Saturday afternoon.
"The first quarter we were just tentative and nervous. It wasn't our game, it's not who we are," said Coach McManamon, referring to the Wildcats' 1-0 deficit entering the second quarter, the first time the 'Cats were shutout in the first quarter all season. "We weren't taking shots that we needed to take and we made mental mistakes that we haven't made all season long. We lost this game last year down in Jackson in triple overtime. I looked everybody in the eye and said, 'Most of you guys have been on this team two or three years and I'm sure you don't want to feel that again.'"
Coach McManamon's players, seniors and underclassmen, got the message loud and clear.
After standout senior Garrett Joseph evened things up with a goal that came with 9 minutes and 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Saint Ignatius' offense was its old self in the second half.
However, before the Wildcats got into their pressure-packed flow, Haag prevented Jackson (12-5) from building a larger advantage by making several key saves off quick-reaction stick work and even a knee save off a 2-on-1 advantage for the Polar Bears. But then a bruised knee is common place for a hard-nosed football linebacker.
After a first half that saw Saint Ignatius, as the Wildcats' astute SIBN sophomore analyst Mike Berry pointed out, spend too much time in the "penalty box" and not take advantage of its man-up situations, the Lax 'Cats unleashed what they are all about.
Led by two exceptional athletic moves for goals by junior Mike Vitale, Saint Ignatius took command with speed, aggressiveness and heady passing.
Senior Dan Hennessy, who attacks with endless passion, scored off one of many solid efforts by senior Bryan Fisher on defense and an assist from senior Mike Mulach. "Fish" and Mulach were mainstays in football and hockey, respectively, Fisher as an outstanding safety and Mulach as a goalie for the Ice Cats.
Following his goal, Hennessy, who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, assisted on a goal by gifted senior facilitator and scorer Mike Avdey. Saint Ignatius' fifth unanswered point had Coach McManamon's team in front, 5-1, with 3:49 left in the third quarter.
"We had two really good practices, Sunday and Memorial Day," said Haag of the Wildcats' preparation for Jackson, a team they defeated, 9-6, in Massillon during the regular season. "The seniors had prom (Sunday night), so we had a lot going on. But we pulled things together and got a lot of good work in. Yeah, Coach definitely harped on us at halftime."
Vitale, who will be expected to help carry the load as the Wildcats' tailback in football this summer and fall, said the 'Cats were a bit sluggish at the start on Tuesday night.
"And championship teams don't do that," Vitale continued. "Everyone kind of got stunned when it was 1-0. It kind of lit a fire under us. Drive hard, work hard. When you work hard, then everything comes."
Saint Ignatius kept coming hard at the offensive end as the Avdey name took center stage again, this time off a great shot by freshman Steve Avdey. Steve's goal, another goal by Hennessy, a goal by Mike Avdey off an assist from Fisher, Vitale's hat trick courtesy of a Steve Avdey assist and another blink-of-an-eye goal by Joseph rounded out the 'Cats' nine-goal barrage in the second half.
Jackson's aggressive and athletically gifted junior Tyler Furbay made sure the Wildcats played their A game down the stretch, as he kept the Polar Bears in striking distance with three goals in the second half.
"Our boys are tough, they're ready to play," said Coach McManamon. "They want to avenge that only loss of the season."
A TIP OF THE CAP: Goes out to Saint Ignatius assistant baseball coach Tim Clark, who guided the junior varsity team to a 19-7 record in his first season with Coach Brad Ganor's program. Quite an accomplishment when you consider the sophomores who were promoted to the varsity during the season and have performed exceptionally well.
*Just a reminder that Coach Ganor will lead his varsity Wildcats against Avon Lake in a Division I regional semifinal on Thursday at 5 PM in Nobby's Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. For a look at what is a match up of two of the hottest teams in Northeast Ohio, see the corner's "Where The 'Cats Play" that was posted on Sunday evening.
A PEAK AT THE 2013-14 WILDCATS' VARSITY BASKETBALL SCHEDULE: Although his schedule for next season is not completed, Saint Ignatius Head Basketball Coach and Associate Athletic Director Sean O'Toole '87 was kind enough to allow the corner to take an early look at some of the highlight games for 2013-14.
Home games with John Adams (Dec. 14), Canton McKinley (Dec. 21) and Warren Harding (Dec. 28) and games at Shaw (Dec. 20) and at Cleveland Central Catholic (Monday, Dec. 30) will keep you in the Christmas and New Year's spirit.
Speaking of the New Year, the Wildcats will host Detroit Jesuit on Jan. 3, will play in the annual Baldwin Wallace University tournament on Sunday, Jan. 5 (opponent TBA), will take on the University School Preppers on Jan. 10 at John Carroll University and will host Walsh Jesuit on Jan. 11.
The first game of the annual home-and-home series with Coach Eric Flannery's St. Edward Eagles is at the Eagles Nest on Jan. 18, with second game slated for Sullivan Gymnasium on Feb. 8.
On Sunday, Jan. 26, it will be the annual "Dunk for Diabetes" tournament at Walsh University, where the 'Cats will face Canton Timken. It's great to see the Bedford Bearcats back on the schedule, as the Wildcats will travel to Northfield Road on Feb. 1.
Rounding out some of the prime-time match ups are the annual Valentine's Day game with Coach Andy Suttell's Cleveland Heights Tigers (at Sullivan Gym this coming season) and a trip to Viking Village the very next night for the tradition-rich rivalry with Coach Babe Kwasniak's Division IV state champion Villa Angela-St. Joseph Vikings.
Coach O'Toole also has a game scheduled for Quicken Loans Arena on Feb. 20 (opponent TBA) and the 'Cats will travel to Benedictine on Feb. 22.
A healthy slate, to say the least, but then Coach O'Toole and his staff will be welcoming back a strong, veteran nucleus along with some special players from last season's talented junior varsity. Keep the name Deven Stover in your hoops memory bank.