THE DEFENDING STATE AND NATIONAL CHAMPION WILDCATS WILL TAKE ON ANOTHER DEMANDING SCHEDULE.

POSTED BY EDDIE DWYER ON 6/21/11.
After putting together a 23-0 season last fall, an effort that led to the OHSAA Division I state championship, the top ranking in the nation by ESPN Rise (POWERADE FAB 50) and the No. 1 spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, Coach Mike McLaughlin's varsity soccer team is gearing up for what could be the most demanding schedule in the program's rich history.

Led by senior forward Matt Foldesy, Saint Ignatius will open its 2011 season against the Padua Bruins on August 20 at Wasmer Field. Action will get underway at 3 p.m. As we reported on the corner last month, Foldesy has accepted a scholarship from the national champion University of Akron Zips. Matt scored a team-leading 22 goals last season.

The Shaker Heights Raiders will bring their game to the new turf at Wasmer on the night of Aug. 23 and on August 27-28, the Wildcats will host the annual Ohio Jesuit Cup. St. Xavier, Walsh Jesuit and Toledo St. John's Jesuit round out the Jesuit Cup.

Walsh Jesuit was a Division II state semifnalist in 2010, St. Xavier advanced to the Division I regional semifinals, where the Bombers lost to eventual state runner-up Centerville, and St. John's Jesuit finished 26th in last fall's final ESPN Rise national poll.

Remember the Titans my friends, as St. John's only setbacks last year were to the Wildcats - 2-0 in the Jesuit Cup and 5-2 in the state semifinals.

Coach McLaughlin's teams always relish a challenge and those 2011 demands continue on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m., when the Wildcats host St. Anthony's (Melville, N.Y.), and on Sept. 3 at 3 p.m., when St. Xavier from Louisville, Kentucky makes the trip to West 30th and Lorain Avenue.

St. Anthony's was the nation's 14th-ranked program last year and Saint Ignatius, en route to its perfect 2010 season, defeated Louisville St. Xavier, 1-0, in a tough Game 5 road trip.

Among the other highlights on the 2011 slate are home games against Dublin Jerome, St. Edward and Massillon Jackson.

The 'Cats, who are 63-1-3 in their past 67 games, will be previewed on the corner later this summer.