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Soccer gears up for national showdown; where 'Cats play

By Eddie Dwyer, 10/04/12, 12:00AM EDT

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Coach Mike McLaughlin's varsity soccer program faces another major test on Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats are traveling to Wisconsin to face Jesuit power Marquette University High School from Milwaukee. Game time is 2 p.m.

In the latest rankings by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Marquette University (15-0-2) is ranked 12th and Saint Ignatius is 17th. The Hilltoppers are the top-ranked team in Wisconsin and the Wildcats (10-0-3) are ranked second in Ohio.

Marquette University entered this week with an unbeaten streak of 52 matches (49-0-3) and Coach McLaughlin's 'Cats are unbeaten in their past 30 matches (27-0-3). Saint Ignatius has played to a tie in three of its past four matches (St. Edward, Twinsburg and Western Reserve Academy).

The Hilltoppers overcame a serious challenge last week, when they rallied to defeat Brookfield East, 3-1. Brookfield East, which is ranked second in the Milwaukee area and sixth in Wisconsin, is the last team from Wisconsin to defeat Marquette University - 3-1 in 2010.

The Wildcats' last defeat came to Louisville, Kentucky St. Xavier in game six of last season, 2-0. Coach McLaughlin's program, which has produced a record five Division I state championships and three national titles, has not lost to an Ohio team since the shootout setback to Gahanna Lincoln in the 2009 state championship game. Saint Ignatius is the two-time defending big-school state champ.

Coach Mike Gallagher's cross country team, coming off a true team victoy at last weekend's Midwest Meet of Champions, will be running at Saturday's Legends Meet in the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

After a second-place finish in sectional play, Coach Brian Becker's varsity golf team is preparing for Wednesday's District Tournament at Pine Hills and as we previewed on the corner this week (see two stories below), Coach Chuck Kyle's varsity football team, ranked No. 1 in Cleveland and Ohio, will look to extend its winning streak to 13 games when it faces the John Adams Rebels on Saturday night at 7 in Byers Field. Seniors John Fanta and Greg Ziton will have the call over the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network.