Ty Sanda's two goals help show the way as Saint Ignatius strikes early and turns away host Shaker Heights, 5-1, on Wednesday evening.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright September 2012
Shortly after he helped lead Saint Ignatius' varsity soccer program to its 23rd consecutive victory and No. 51 in its past 52 matches, Wildcats gifted senior midfielder and co-captain Tyler Sanda said he is really impressed with how quickly the 2012 'Cats have blended together as a team.
Just a tad more intensity and concentration, and Sanda, like Coach Mike McLaughlin's other veterans, believes the Wildcats' ultimate goal is very attainable.
Saint Ignatius, after bringing home a record fifth Division I state championship last fall, is striving for something no soccer program in any of Ohio's divisions has accomplished, boys or girls - a sixth state crown.
Wednesday night, the Wildcats continued their pursuit for gold trophy No. 6 by taking charge early, controlling the ball and the opportunites over the final 40 minutes and defeating a game team from Shaker Heights, 5-1. The match was played on the new turf surface at Russell H. Rupp Field, just one of many impressive renovations the Raiders have made in their athletic complex off Aldersyde Drive.
"It was a good overall performance," said Coach McLaughlin '85, whose team is ranked No. 1 in both the area and state coaches polls, and is 10th nationally in the poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. "Even though we didn't score in the second half, we created a lot of opportunities."
Saint Ignatius (6-0), which travels to Dublin Jerome on Saturday for junior varsity (noon) and varsity (2 p.m.) matchups with the Celtics, took advantage of almost every opportunity that came its way in the early going.
Sanda, a Bowling Green State University recruit, took a nice look from savvy senior defender Jacob Roth, made a crafty move and fired home the first goal of the game. Ty would say later that he owed both of his goals to Roth's assists.
Moving the ball and keeping the pressure on, the Wildcats made it 2-0 on an athletic goal by junior midfielder Matt Ivancic with less than seven minutes gone in the first half. Matt plays with the same aggressiveness and endless hustle that his brother Ryan '11 brought to the 2010 state and national championship team.
After Shaker Heights drew its faithful into the game by cutting the deficit to 2-1, Saint Ignatius responded with the poise and presence one associates with a defending state champion.
Just after the Raiders' drum corps and other band members finished off a rally beat, Wildcats junior midfielder Alec Nagucki sent home an authoritative goal that soared down the middle and over the goalie's head. Alec's impressive effort went to the tune of a 3-1 lead.
Keeping Shaker Heights at bay, Saint Ignatius took control on a goal by standout senior forward and co-captain Nate Fahey and another net finder by Sanda that saw Ty play the assist from Roth off his chest and put on another crowd-pleasing move.
With just over nine minutes remaining in the first half, Wildcats veteran midfielder Nick Taljan went down with what Coach McLaughlin saw as a sprained ankle. Nick was immediately treated by one of the outstanding athletic trainers in Ohio - Shaker Heights High School's Mr. Bob Collins - and watched the remainder of the game from the sideline.
In the junior varsity game, Coach Jim Brennan '85 watched his Wildcats score four goals in each half en route to an 8-0 triumph over the Raiders. The JV 'Cats now stand 5-1 heading into Dublin Jerome on Saturday.
It was a memorable night for the Zorij family, as twin brothers Jordan and Aaron each tallied a goal for the jayvees. Bobby Barsic and Nick Malik had two-goal nights and also drawing a roar from the Saint Ignatius faithful for their net finders were Jack Michals and Sam Brown.
*Food for thought: "A community is known by the schools it keeps." That was the message that flashed on the screen of the Raiders' new scoreboard throughout the soccer matches. A great and oh so true phrase.
*For this old-timer, it was wonderful to be back on Aldersyde Drive where during my nearly four decades at The Plain Dealer I had the privilege to cover the Raiders' outstanding football and basketball teams coached by Dave Sedmak and the late Bob Wonson. Again, congratulations to Raiders Athletic Director Don Readance and the entire Shaker Heights school system on their beautiful renovations.
Rounding the corner, heading to football practice on Thursday and anticipating the premier matchup in Ohio high school football this weekend - the 'Cats vs. the Cards!