A STUDY IN PERSEVERANCE.

NOAH TOUMERT HAS A NIGHT TO CHERISH, AS THE NATIONALLY RANKED WILDCATS IMPROVE TO 15-0.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, Oct. 2010

It was getting late on Tuesday night and some of the lights in Wasmer Field were being dimmed.

Nothing, however, could faint the brightness that accompanied Noah Toumert's every word.

Toumert, who experienced a season of frustration in 2009, sparked a dominant second half by Saint Ignatius' reserves and put a special seal on the Wildcats' 8-0 varsity soccer triumph over the Padua Bruins.

Entering the game with one goal this fall, Toumert came up with a hat trick in a final 40 minutes that saw the Wildcats score five goals and display the depth that has helped them to a second-place ranking in the nation by both the Coaches' poll and the ESPN Rise Fab 50.

Saint Ignatius (15-0), the No. 1 team in Ohio in Division I, will look to wrap up its third perfect regular season in six years when it welcomes Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep to Wasmer Field on Saturday at high noon.

The 'Cats experienced perfection in 2005, the year they brought home a national championship. Last year, before finishing as the big-school state runner-up, Saint Ignatius put together an unblemished regular-season campaign.

And no Wildcat recalls last season more vividly than Toumert.

“This definitely means a lot,” said the junior forward from Gesu. “Last year I was out all season with an injury. I had shin splints. This year coming out I worked really hard to get on to the team.

“It's awesome just to be on the team. To come out and be able to do something like this, I mean scoring goals is what I am supposed to do. And now that I can get the chance, it is just awesome.”

Although a young Padua team had some early defensive moments that it can build on for the future, Saint Ignatius' savvy and skilled starters eventually broke down what was in front of them.

Sophomore forward Tyler Sanda, who came up with two goals in Saturday's highly publicized 4-1 victory at Strongsville, gave his team a 1-0 lead by sending home his sixth goal of the season at the 22:41 mark of the first half.

The Wildcats made it 2-0 on a goal by sophomore defender Nate Fahey off a picture-perfect pass from senior midfielder and co-captain Ryan Ivancic with 17:54 remaining in the first 40 minutes.

After recording his team-leading eighth assist of the season, Ivancic beat the goalie for his sixth goal of 2010 with just over 9 minutes left in the first half.

Saint Ignatius coach Mike McLaughlin '85 went to his bench at the start of the second half and Toumert and Co. didn't disappoint.

Off some nice footwork and endless hustle, Toumert scored via an assist from freshman midfielder Alec Nagucki eight minutes into the second half. Toumert scored again at 23:04 and, after just missing the net on some other efforts, he completed his memorable and brisk October night by recording his hat trick with 1:14 left to be played.

Gifted junior forward Preston Spurrier sandwiched two goals around Toumert's third net finder, a rocket at 5:58 and the eighth goal with 50 seconds on the clock.

With a smile that was as big as his energy, Toumert spoke of the lasting influence Ivancic and the Wildcats' other senior captains – Yianni Sarris and Luke Blades – have had on his comeback season.

“You can tell just by watching them that they know the game far better than anyone I have ever played with,” Toumert said. “They're all great leaders, so they get our team riled up. You can tell by the score that we came out to win this one. It's awesome just playing with this team atmosphere.”

And that take-charge atmosphere was just what Coach McLaughlin was looking for, especially coming off Saturday's highly touted encounter in Strongsville.

“I thought they (Padua) came out really organized,” said the veteran coach. “They defended well and their goalkeeper made some key saves early on. Our big concern was coming off of Strongsville, the energy that it took to get up to do that (the 4-1 victory over the Mustangs). But right from the get-go we were getting at it tonight. We played good defense, created chances and put them away.

“And I'm pleased that the reserves were able to score more than the starters, thanks to Noah Toumert.”

Padua, which is coached by former Saint Ignatius assistant, Roman “Peanuts” Hubach, stands 5-7-3 on the season.

The Wildcats will enter Saturday's regular-season finale having outscored their opponents, 60-6. It is a mark that includes nine shutouts.