Just one week after presenting head coach Mike McLaughlin '85 with his 300th career victory, the Saint Ignatius varsity soccer team (13-0-3) will begin postseason play on Saturday against Lincoln-West in a sectional-final match on Wasmer Field. The action gets underway at 4 p.m.
Our neighbors from Lincoln-West earned the right to face the five-time Division I state champion Wildcats by defeating Parma, 5-0, in Wednesday’s sectional-semifinal round of the University Heights District.
Saint Ignatius, ranked 13th nationally and second in Ohio, is seeking its third consecutive big-school state crown and something no boys or girls soccer program in the Buckeye State has accomplished to this point – an unprecedented sixth state championship. The Wildcats have not lost to a team from Ohio since 2009, a shootout setback to Gahanna Lincoln in the state championship game.
Coach Chuck Kyle ’69 will send his 8-0 varsity football team against Jesuit school rival Cincinnati St. Xavier (5-3) on Saturday at the Bombers’ Ballaban Field. The kickoff is 2 p.m. For a complete look at the game, check out the corner’s preview story that is posted below this report.
And while we’re on the subject of Saint Ignatius football, congratulations to the Wildcats’ freshman team on its 6-0 victory over Cathedral Prep in Erie (Pa.) on Wednesday evening. The freshmen, who close their season on Oct. 25 when they face St. Edward on Wasmer Field at 6 p.m., improved to 6-1.
Coach Rodney Galloway’s team scored on a catch and run by Jack Cook off a pass from Dennis Grosel. The game’s only points were set up by some hard-nosed running by Ian Forkapa and Richard Lawless. Cathedral Prep was driving late in the game, but was turned away when nose tackle Nolan Corrigan forced a fumble near the Saint Ignatius 40-yard line.
*Coach Mike Gallagher’s cross country team, ranked second in Ohio to St. Xavier, will be competing in the Strongsville District Meet on Saturday. The Varsity Race is at 2:45 p.m. The Open Race will follow the last scheduled race and will start at approximately 4 p.m.
*In anticipation of what should be a very memorable basketball season this coming winter, the corner decided to whet your hoops appetite with a look at Coach Sean O’Toole’s recently completed schedule for 2012-13. The Wildcats will open their season on Saturday, December 8 against John Hay in Sullivan Gymnasium. A 6 p.m. junior varsity game will precede the 7:30 varsity tipoff. Here is the remainder of the varsity schedule.
Saturday
December 15
Shaw
Home
7:30
Saturday
December 22
Canton McKinley
Away
7:30
Friday
December 28
Midpark
Home
7:30
Saturday
December 29
Cleveland Central Catholic
Home
7:30
Wednesday
January 2
Detroit Jesuit
Away
6:00
Friday
January 4
Columbus Northland
7:30
@ John Carroll University
Sunday
January 6
St. Vincent-St. Mary, B-W
3:30
Friday
January 11
University School
Away
7:30
@ John Carroll University
Saturday
January 12
Lorain
Away
7:30
Saturday
January 19
St. Edward
Home
7:30
Sunday
January 20
Our Savior (New York)
Away
1:15
Flyin' to the Hoop @ Trent Arena
@ Kettering Fairmont HS
Friday
January 25
Strongsville
Home
7:30
Saturday
January 26
Walsh Jesuit
Away
7:30
Sunday
January 27
St. Clairsville
3:30
Dunk for Diabetes
@ Walsh University
Friday
February 1
Glenville
Home
7:30
Saturday
February 2
Perrysburg
Away
7:30
Friday
February 8
St. Edward
Away
7:30
Thursday
February 14
Cleveland Heights
Away
7:30
Saturday
February 16
Villa Angela-St. Joseph
Home
7:30
Wednesday
February 20
John Adams
3:15
@ Quicken Loans Arena
Saturday
February 23
Benedictine
Home
7:30