Bobby Barsic scores the first two goals of his varsity career, Nick Taljan also has a two-bagger and the Wildcats' defense is simply awesome in Thursday night's victory over University School on Wasmer Field.
Saint Ignatius will now focus on Saturday's final regular season game against North Royalton, as the Wildcats will be out to present Head Coach Mike McLaughlin '85 with his 300th career victory and seal the 500th win in the history of Saint Ignatius soccer. Saturday's game is the 700th in the program's rich history.
Thursday night also included some great observation and analysis from Andres Saldana '14, the Film Director of the Wildcats' soccer program and a contributor to the SIBN's soccer broadcasts.
Ohio City – Just moments after he had his own memorable night, Saint Ignatius sophomore midfielder Bobby Barsic described Thursday’s victory over state-ranked University School on Wasmer Field and last weekend’s dramatic triumph in Milwaukee over Wisconsin national soccer power Marquette University High School as being “a great feeling.”
The Wildcats, who are now unbeaten in their last 32 matches (29-0-3) after defeating University School, 4-0, are definitely feeling it again after going through a stretch from Sept. 19 through Sept. 29 that saw them experience three ties – against St. Edward, Twinsburg and Western Reserve Academy.
If any of the soccer gurus out there think Saint Ignatius is not capable of bringing home a third consecutive Division I state championship and an unprecedented sixth Ohio crown, they better think again.
That aggressive, smooth-passing offense that the Wildcats’ faithful have grown accustomed to is back on track. And as for the defense, that never slows down under 18-year head coach Mike McLaughlin ’85.
Simply put my friends, the ‘Cats are still the soccer program you have to beat in order to be recognized among Ohio’s big boys. In late October and early November, games can’t end in a tie.
“Our first halves have been a little less productive, but we came out in the second half of these last two games (Thursday night and in Milwaukee) and have shown how we can put the ball in the net,” said Barsic, who two second-half goals against University School were the first of his varsity career.
Despite dominating ball possession and peppering numerous shots at the Preppers’ goal, including three that kissed off the crossbar and another that spun off the left post, Saint Ignatius (12-0-3) found itself in a scoreless game after the first 40 minutes.
And much of the credit, if not all, for University School (11-3-1) being able to hang in during the first half, goes to Preppers’ junior goalkeeper Luke Wilhelm. Wilhelm made some outstanding saves in the first 40 minutes, including a highlight-reel leaping effort off a rebound that hit high in the air off the left post with 2 minutes and 27 seconds remaining in the first 40 minutes.
However, much like the game against Marquette University High School, when they stormed back from a 2-0 deficit and snapped the Hilltoppers’ 52-game unbeaten streak, 4-3, the Wildcats were on a mission in the second half Thursday night.
Controlling both sides of the field and coming at Ohio’s fifth-ranked Division II program with passion and skill, Saint Ignatius took a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior midfielder Nick Taljan with less than a minute gone in the second half.
After an outstanding save by ‘Cats sophomore goalie Clark Gronek, Barsic added his name to the 2012 varsity stats at the 30:29 mark.
University School attempted to get back in the game on a penalty kick with 22:09 left, but Gronek, who has been perfect against PKs this season, helped discourage that with a diving effort to his left and the shot went wide right.
From there, it Barsic again with varsity goal No. 2 and Taljan left no doubt by sending home his second back-of-the-net finder of the night with 13:19 remaining.
Composed, but wearing a smile that helped keep Wasmer Field glowing (the lights were gradually being turned off), Barsic described his night to cherish and what he and teammates are determined to accomplish on Saturday, when they face the North Royalton Bears in the regular-season finale on Wasmer Field at 3 p.m.
“The first one, we worked the ball really well, I was wide open and Alec (standout junior midfielder Alec Nagucki) found me,” Barsic said. “I looked at the back post, shot it and it went in. On the second one, Nicky T (Taljan) had a cross, Nate (senior captain and forward Nate Fahey) just flicked it and I put it in.
“We’re going to work our butts off,” Barsic continued as he was referring to the opportunity to give Coach McLaughlin his 300th career victory on Saturday and rack up the 500th win the program’s history. “I swear we’re going to get it for him.”
Coach McLaughlin, who currently has a career mark of 299-39-36, all at his alma mater, will attempt to become the 15th soccer coach in Ohio to secure at least 300 wins. Mike is waiting until about 4:30 on Saturday afternoon before he will reflect on what it would mean to join that elite group. Saint Ignatius enters the North Royalton game ranked second in Ohio in Division I and 17th nationally.
“If our first line of defense can be our forwards, then when we win the ball from their defenders we’re closer to the goal,” said Coach McLaughlin of the Wildcats’ ability to make it tough for University School to clear the ball on Thursday night, an observation that was astutely pointed out by the keen eyes of Wildcats Film Director Andres Saldana ’14. A young man who plays soccer and has a passion for the game, Andres also contributes to the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network’s analysis of the game.
“It’s just the defenders who play defense, but if you have your whole team playing defense it changes the game,” Coach McLaughlin continued. “I’m really pleased with how we start games. They’re ready, they’re energy level is high and they are dominating the game. In about the last seven or eight games, we’ve had a clear chance to take over in the first 10 minutes, but we were not getting shots into the back of the net and the momentum changes. That’s our focus (heading into the postseason), to just put the ball in the back of the net earlier.
“Once we got into our rhythm tonight, you could just feel the energy. It was clicking.”
Congratulations go out to Coach Jim Brennan ’85 and his Wildcats junior varsity soccer team for improving to 13-1 with a 2-0 triumph over University School on Thursday night. The JV Wildcats will play their final game of the season when they take on North Royalton Saturday at 1 on Wasmer Field.
By Eddie Dwyer
Coach McLaughlin’s outstanding accomplishment is complemented by the fact that Saturday was the 500th victory in the tradition-rich history of Saint Ignatius soccer.
The Wildcats presented Coach McLaughlin ’85 with his milestone on what was the 700th game in the program’s history. Currently in his 18th season as the ‘Cats’ head coach, Mike will take a career record of 300-39-36 into next Saturday’s postseason play against the winner of the semifinal first-round match between Lincoln-West and Parma.
Saint Ignatius is seeking its third consecutive Division I state championship and an unprecedented sixth state soccer title. The Wildcats have already captured a record five Division I boys state championships.
According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association record book, Coach McLaughlin becomes the 15th soccer coach in the state to have won at least 300 games. Mario Gerhardt of Chagrin Falls (1970-2009) leads the OHSAA’s list at 451-228-86.
“Quite honestly, I’m focused with how my goalkeeper’s doing,” said the always humble McLaughlin, after his team won 299 with a 4-0 victory over University School on Thursday night at Wasmer Field. “It (the 300 victories) means you’ve been around for a while.”
*As promised, Coach McLaughlin shared his deeper thoughts on the milestones with us after Saturday’s game and we will share those, the comments by some of his players and the game story on the victory over the Bears after the corner completes its double duty by covering tonight’s varsity football game between the state’s top-ranked Wildcats (7-0) and the St. Francis Red Raiders (0-6).
*AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH MCLAUGHLIN, HIS CURRENT AND PAST PLAYERS, HIS FAMILY, HIS OUTSTANDING COACHING STAFF AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE WILDCATS’ NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SOCCER PROGRAM.