Saint Ignatius creates opportunities, especially in the second half, but St. Edward matches the Wildcats' tenacity as the West Side rivals put on another memorable soccer performance in front of a great crowd at Coughlin Field on Wednesday night.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright September 2012
No, it wasn’t quite as dramatic or meaningful as their meeting 11 months ago, when Saint Ignatius and St. Edward went toe-to-toe on Wasmer Field.
That night, a district title was at stake and the Wildcats, en route to their record fifth Division I state championship, prevailed in Golden Goal overtime fashion.
That said, the first meeting of the 2012 season between two of the top soccer programs in Ohio, and I’m going to assume there will be a second one late next month with higher stakes, had much of the same intensity and rich atmosphere that dominated that late October night in 2011.
Saint Ignatius and St. Edward, testing each other’s will for 80 minutes on what was a brisk and clear Wednesday night, added another chapter to one of the most storied rivalries in the history of Ohio high school athletics by battling to a 0-0 tie on the Eagles’ Coughlin Field.
The Wildcats, who entered the game with a 26-match winning streak and the top ranking in the area and state coaches’ polls, will take a 9-0-1 record into Saturday’s game at Massillon Jackson.
Coach Tony Dore’s Eagles, who bent a little but had the inner strength to not break, now stand at 6-0-4.
“In a game like this, you find out little things about yourself,” said Wildcats head coach Mike McLaughlin ’85, who along with the five state championships has guided his program to two national titles and 296 victories. “We defended pretty well in the back third and moved the ball well in the middle. We created some nice chances, but we just didn’t put them in. If we weren’t creating chances, that would be a bad thing.
“St. Edward played a terrific game,” Coach McLaughlin continued. “These are the best games of the season. I’m grateful to be challenged by them. They make us better and we make them better, and that’s what it is all about.”
With both teams answering challenges throughout the first half and the respective goalies – the Eagles’ brilliant senior Stuart Ford and the Wildcats gifted sophomore Mikal Outcalt – living up to their billings, the large and enthusiastic crowd was treated to some outstanding defense all night.
Ford, who recorded his fifth shutout on the season, made some of his trademark diving and leaping saves and in the final 11:08 of the first half, Saint Ignatius’ senior Co-Captain and midfielder Ty Sanda, senior defender Jacob Roth and junior midfielder Alec Nagucki were rejecting almost everything that came within 10 feet of the Wildcats’ goal.
Coach Dore wanted to see his Eagles defense avoid separation and not allow those scoring seams that the Wildcats are so adept at creating. And with the exception of some trying moments in the second half, Coach Dore walked away with a huge smile on his face and saying: “It was fun.”
Outcalt, who in the words of his coaches does not play young, came up with a huge diving save with 9:24 remaining to be played and, after both teams misfired from close range, Ford stood tall again after he dove to the turf and swallowed up a ball that was about to kiss the net with 51 seconds left. St. Edward also benefited all night from the endless hustle and soccer savvy of Zac Cairns, Timmy Jonas, Matt Ramser and Mikey Bowden.
Wildcats outstanding senior forward and Co-Captain Nate Fahey, who has now helped his team to 54 victories and a tie in its past 56 matches, pointed to the responsibility he has to prepare the younger players on Saint Ignatius’ roster for more games like the one they had just played.
“This was their biggest game so far, as underclassmen,” Fahey said. “It's a tough place to come into and play, with the large crowd, the environment and the noise. I think they need to learn to play under such pressure and as a leader I need to help them create pressure at practice. Obviously we want to be on our A game, so whatever it takes to make them better.
“St. Eds is a great team and we knew coming in that it was going to be an intense game,” Fahey continued. “I think we can take pride from this. We busted it hard for 80 minutes and not getting the result, it was just not our day. The ball didn’t go in or whatever. There is always tomorrow.”
*Wednesday night’s tie was the first for Saint Ignatius since the three ties they played during 2008. The Wildcats now lead the all-time series with St. Edward, 33-4-5.
*Congratulations go out to Coach Jim Brennan ’85, who guided Saint Ignatius’ junior varsity soccer team to a 5-0 victory over St. Edward on Wednesday night. Providing the goals for the 9-1 jayvees were Cole Brownsberger, Patrick Meidenbauer, Hayden Parente, Zach Senft and Sam Brown. The JV ‘Cats also got some solid play at center back from Jack Weigant.
*It was great to see former Wildcat All-American Yianni Sarris ’11 at Wednesday night’s game. Yianni, who plays soccer for The Ohio State University, provided some of his state and national championship insight while talking with the coaches along the sideline.
*Rounding the corner and throwing a GREAT JOB out to the student bodies from Saint Ignatius and St. Edward for the outstanding and good-spirited support they provided at Coughlin Field on Wednesday night.