POSTED BY EDWARD HANNON PATRICK DWYER

Coach Mike McLaughlin's defending state champions will face the Copley Indians Tuesday (tomorrow) in a Division I state semifinal at Nordonia. The starting time is 7 p.m.

Saint Ignatius (20-1) enters the semifinals on a 15-match winning streak. The Wildcats, who have won 43 of their past 44 matches, are seeking their third state championship in four seasons and what would be a record fifth boys' state title in Ohio soccer.

Saint Ignatius earned what is its ninth trip to the final four by winning three consecutive matches in Golden Goal overtime - a 1-0, double-overtime victory over St. Edward in the district finals, a 1-0 overtime triumph over Massillon Jackson in the regional semifinals and a 2-1 Golden Goal thriller over Mayfield in Saturday's regional title match at Rocky River. With McLaughlin at the helm, the Wildcats are 74-12 in OHSAA playoff games.

Copley (15-2-4) advanced to the final four by defeating Toledo St. John's Jesuit, 3-2, in Saturday's regional final at Bay. Counting ties, the Indians are unbeaten in 16 consecutive matches. Copley jumped out to a 3-0 lead against St. John's. The Titans closed to 3-2 by halftime, but the Indians' defense stood tall over the final 40 minutes.

Coach Dave Antal's team played most of the match against St. John's down a player because of a red card. Copley was the Class A-AA state runner-up in 1984 and the Division II state champion in 1994. Coach Antal was a mainstay as a player for that '94 team.

Saint Ignatius has not lost to an Ohio team since the 1-0 shoot-out setback to Gahanna Lincoln in the 2009 big-school state championship match. En route to state and national championships last season, the Wildcats were 23-0 and their only loss this season came over Labor Day Weekend to Louisville (KY) St. Xavier, 2-0 on Wasmer Field.

SAINT IGNATIUS VS. COPLEY HISTORY: Tuesday night's state semifinal will mark the first playoff match between the Wildcats and the Indians. Saint Ignatius leads the all-time series, 2-1-1, with the first match being played in 1981 and the most recent in 1988.

****THE CORNER WILL PROVIDE COVERAGE ON THE WILDCATS-COPLEY STATE SEMIIFINAL AND WE WILL POST A PREVIEW ON SATURDAY'S SAINT IGNATIUS-ST. EDWARD REGIONAL SEMIFINAL FOOTBALL GAME ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

****THE SAINT IGNATIUS BROADCASTING NETWORK WILL BRING YOU LIVE COVERAGE OF TUESDAY'S SOCCER MATCH. THE SMOOTH AND SAVVY LEWIS BACKUS PROVIDES THE PLAY BY PLAY AND LUCAS MATHESON WILL HAVE HIS ASTUTE COMMENTARY ON EVERY KEY MOMENT.