SIMPLY THE BEST!

OUTSCORING THEIR OPPONENTS, 106-13, THE WILDCATS' SOCCER TEAM WRAPS UP A PERFECT SEASON WITH STATE AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

A YIANNI SARRIS AND MATT FOLDESY-FUELED THREE-GOAL BARRAGE IN THE SECOND HALF SHOWS THE WAY, AND RYAN IVANCIC PROVIDES THE SEALER AS THE 'CATS STUN THE PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED AND NATIONALLY RANKED CENTERVILLE ELKS, 4-1, IN FRIDAY NIGHT'S DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN COLUMBUS.

POSTED ON 11/13/10 AT 3:17 A.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, November 2010

COLUMBUS, OHIO – During the pregame warmup for Friday night's Division I state championship soccer game, the unmistakable voice of Tina Turner rang out over the public address system in Crew Stadium.

“You're simply the best, better than all the rest, ----.”

Slightly more than two hours later, Coach Mike McLaughlin '85 and his 2010 Saint Ignatius Wildcats were that and more.

The Wildcats, unleashing three goals in less than three minutes, stunned the Centerville Elks in the second half and went on to a 4-1 victory before an enthusiastic and soccer-savvy crowd.

In winning its fourth state soccer championship, Saint Ignatius completed its remarkable fall with an unblemished mark of 23-0-0. The fourth title came on the same date, Nov. 12th, as the first one in 2004.

The 'Cats, who brought home their second Ohio crown in three years, were also assured of garnering their second national championship, as they entered Friday's match up with the Elks ranked No. 1 in both the ESPN Rise Fab 50 and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. A representative from ESPN covered the game and told the Wildcats they would be the national champion in the Fab 50.

Along with its state and national crowns, Saint Ignatius joined Kettering Archbishop Alter, North Olmsted and Columbus St. Francis De Sales as the four boys soccer programs to win four state titles. And Coach McLaughlin, who also led his 'Cats to Ohio Championships in 2004, '05 and '08, and a national title in '05, became the first coach in Ohio to guide four state-champion boys soccer teams.

Centervillle, making its seventh state-final appearance and looking to add to the state championship it won in 1984, closed its 2010 campaign at 20-1-2. The Elks were ranked eighth nationally by ESPN Rise.

Closing the book on last season's disappointing 2-1 shoot-out loss to Gahanna Lincoln in the big-school championship game, Saint Ignatius sealed the deal in a furious fashion after a first half that had the Wildcats and their coaches wondering if another shoot-out situation was in the cards.

For the first 40 minutes, the Elks and the Wildcats showed everyone in attendance why they were two of the strongest defensive teams in the nation. With Centerville senior goalie Andrew Kreger and Saint Ignatius junior goalie Brendan Cash rising to the occasion, the first half ended in a 0-0 tie.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world, there are no words to describe it,” said 'Cats' gifted All-Ohio senior midfielder and co-captain Yianni Sarris, after he dedicated his performance to former classmate and lacrosse player Adam Grodzik, who was killed in a car accident the weekend of Sept. 18, and to another fellow Wildcat who is battling cancer.

What happened in the second half could be described as amazing, that is unless you have been fortunate enough to see Sarris and standout junior forward Matt Foldesy work their magic before.

In what seemed like a blink of the eye, Sarris and Foldesy turned a classic defensive struggle into a 3-0 Saint Ignatius lead.

First it was Sarris hammering home his 17th goal of the season off an assist from Foldesy and then it was Yianni again, as the Florida Gulf Coast University recruit delivered No. 18 off some clever footwork and determination by Foldesy.

The give-and-go show by Sarris and Foldesy continued with Foldesy sending an authoritative blast past Kreger from the left side or the goalie's right. It was Foldesy's team-leading 22nd goal of the fall.

“Oh, yeah, oh for sure,” said Foldesy, when asked if some of the memories of the Gahanna Lincoln shootout rose their ugly head before he and Sarris fueled the offense. “We were playing for Adam Grodzik and the seniors from last year.

“I don't know, we've been doing it all year,” Foldesy continued, as he referred to the chemistry he and Sarris have on the field. “We came to play. Yianni's in great spots and I got to the corner and found him. He did the rest and he found me on a great one. We had the connection today. We knew we needed to be there.”

A young man with plenty of God-given skills and inner strength, Foldesy said in order to get the most out of himself he turns to the verse from Isaiah 40:31 that he wears taped to his arm, a verse that points to the physical strength one can derive from his or her faith in God.

Following Sarris' and Foldesy's quick strikes, senior midfielder and co-captain Ryan Ivancic, a player whose endless hustle and passion for the game exemplified the 2010 'Cats, put his mark on the state and national championships by delivering his 12th goal of the season with 12:45 left. Ryan's goal was the 'Cats' 106th this season, which is second in the program's history to the 129 goals scored by the 2000 team.

During the final nine minutes, Coach McLaughlin substituted for his seniors, so they could receive their well-deserved ovations from the Wildcats' faithful. Among those veterans was All-Ohio senior co-captain and Davidson recruit Luke Blades. Luke's brothers, Gavin '05 and Mark '06, were also state champions at Saint Ignatius and Mark Blades, who is now an assistant coach for the Wildcats, was a mainstay on the 2005 national-championship team.

Shortly after Sarris said he couldn't wait to present the Grodzik family with a ball signed by all of the players, Coach McLaughlin praised Centerville for its exceptional defensive effort and the rich history the Elks bring to Ohio high school soccer. The veteran coach also pointed to what his 2010 'Cats accomplished against a who's who schedule, and how difficult it really is to be perfect in the game of soccer.

But then maybe a second verse by the award-winning Tina Turner goes a long way in describing a soccer coach whose career record of 265-38-33 also includes 12 district titles and eight regional championships – “better than anyone I've ever met!"

In closing, let me just say that I was honored to report on several All-Ohio and All-American players in football, basketball and baseball, players who went on to professional careers. But I was never more sincere when I told the 'Cats' brilliant All-Ohio senior co-captain and midfielder Yianni Sarris on Friday night that he is a “great athlete”and that it was a “privilege” to cover him and his state and national-champion teammates.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU AGAIN AND GOD BLESS.