WILDCATS TREAT THEIR PARENTS-DAY CROWD TO ANOTHER PERFECT REGULAR SEASON.

A THREE-GOAL SPAN IN THE FIRST HALF HELPS FUEL A VICTORY OVER THE AGGRESSIVE RAMBLERS.

TOURNAMENT PLAY BEGINS ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

POSTED ON 10/16/10 AT 4:37 P.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, October 2010

Saint Ignatius' standout junior forward Matt Foldesy said it is something he and his teammates wanted to do and knew they were capable of accomplishing.

Their ultimate goals, however, are still in front of them.

The Wildcats, fueled by first-half net finders from sophomore forward Tyler Sanda, Foldesy and senior midfielder and co-captain Luke Blades, turned back the Ramblers from Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep, 7-2, on a picture-perfect Saturday fall afternoon.

And perfect was the operative word of the day, as Coach Mike McLaughlin's soccer 'Cats completed the third undefeated regular season in the program's rich history.

Saint Ignatius, ranked second in the nation in both the Coaches' Poll and the ESPN Rise Fab 50, will take a record of 16-0-0 into Thursday's sectional finals. The 'Cats will face the winner of the semifinal matchup between John Marshall and Rhodes on Wasmer Field at 7 p.m.

In sending Cathedral Prep home with just its third loss in 14 games, the 2010 Wildcats join Coach McLaughlin's national-championship team of 2005 and last year's state runner-up squad in achieving an unblemished regular-season mark.

“If you come to practice and work hard every day, good things happen,” said Foldesy, who led the 'Cats in the regular season with 15 goals, including two on Saturday. “Hopefully we'll keep this momentum going all through the playoffs.”

Saint Ignatius, which is looking to erase the memory of last year's 2-1, shoot-out loss to Gahanna Lincoln in the state championship game, found itself in a battle with the Ramblers in the early going.

Locked in a 1-1 tie, Ohio's No.1-ranked program took the lead on a smooth shot by Sanda into the right corner of the net with 15:56 remaining to be played in the first half. It was Ty's seventh goal of the season.

Three minutes and 13 second later, Foldesy stepped up and, off some clever footwork, sent home an authoritative shot for a 3-1 lead.

Saint Ignatius' colorful and informative play-by-play broadcaster Mike Watts '11 had just described Blades as being exceptional off the free kick when Luke, a Davidson recruit, rocketed home a 30-yard blur past the goalkeeper. It was an effort that allowed the 'Cats to take a 4-1 advantage into halftime.

Foldesy, a son of former St. Edward and Cleveland State University All-American and Hall of Fame wrestler Dan Foldesy, slapped home his 15th goal with the second half less than a minute old.

Junior forward Noah Toumert, who was coming off a hat trick against Padua on Tuesday night, scored his fifth goal of the season on a nice follow at the 33:39 mark, and sophomore defender Nate Fahey tallied his second goal of the game off a header with 25:13 left to be played.

In what was a physical second half, Cathedral Prep (10-3-1) became the only team to score more than one goal against the Wildcats in the regular season, as Ramblers senior midfielder Max Lorei found the net off a text-book shot at the 23:24 mark. Saint Ignatius outscored its regular-season opponents, 67-8.

“They're big boys and they're from Pennsylvania,” said a smiling Foldesy, as his response to the physicality of the game had a touch of the Browns-Steelers rivalry. “We knew they were going to be good. We came out a little shaky in the first 10 minutes, but after that we started moving the ball, started battling and all was good.”

And Coach McLaughlin '85 is looking for everything to remain good over the next four weeks.

“I'm extremely proud of this year's team,” said the veteran coach. “Soccer is one of those games where it's difficult to be perfect. So many things happen in the game of soccer – bad bounces, bad weather and tough opponents, too.

“And I think this year we played the most difficult regular-season schedule in the history of our program. I'm proud of our players for maintaining the focus, for coming hard to practice and coming hard for every game.”