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Milhoan Scores School-Record 7 Goals as Cats Defeat Berea-Midpark, 8-0

By Eddie Dwyer, 10/15/16, 5:15PM EDT

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The Varsity and JV Soccer Cats complete unbeaten regular seasons with Saturday's victories over Berea-Midpark. Cats All-Ohio and All-American senior forward Steve Milhoan ties a school record with seven goals in the 8-0 Varsity triumph.

By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit October 2016

FROM LOU GROZA FIELD IN BEREA, OHIO - Displaying the same class and character he brings to school and the pitch every day, Saint Ignatius' dynamic senior forward/captain Steve Milhoan spoke with the corner after his tremendous performance Saturday afternoon versus Berea-Midpark in the Varsity Soccer Cats' regular-season finale.

"It's definitely on a site I'm happy about, to get up on that school record board is always a dream, always a good goal to have," said the reigning Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year after he tied a single-game school record with seven goals in an 8-0 victory over the Titans from Berea-Midpark on atmosphere-rich Lou Groza Field, a wonderful setting for soccer.

"But like I've said, without my team here it doesn't happen," continued Milhoan, an All-American who is bound for the nationally ranked soccer program at Xavier University next year. "I give all of the credit to them for sure. They were feeding me balls like crazy, they knew it (the record) was there for me once I got a couple up there, man they were great. I love my team, they were giving me every single ball, every opportunity. So, I did what I could."

What Steve did was tie former Wildcat standout John Duldner '16 for most goals in a game, a record John set against Chardon on September 17th last year at Wasmer Field. Maybe it's only fitting that Steve and his exceptional footwork produced his special seven on a field named after the Browns Hall of Fame kicker, who went by the nickname Lou "The Toe."  

The seven-goal outburst gives Steve 19 goals this season and 68 for his career. Steve's 68 career goals and 33 career assists both stand third all-time in the rich tradition that is Saint Ignatius Soccer.

"Honestly, right now at this point of the season I'm just trying to have fun," said Steve after he helped the nation's and state's top-ranked team complete its regular season at 14-0-2.

"There's a lot on the line, you could look at it and be pressured," Steve continued in reference to the all-important OHSAA State Tournament, which gets underway for Saint Ignatius with a Sectional Final on October 22 versus the winner of the semifinal matchup between Lincoln-West and Bedford. The game on the 22nd is slated for high noon at Wasmer Field.

"I'm enjoying the moment right now," Steve said. "My senior year has been great and my team has been great all four years. I couldn't be happier going into the postseason."

Pressure is something Coach Mike McLaughlin's nationally acclaimed program seems to thrive on, and the goal this late October and early November for the two-time defending and record seven state champions is to become the first boys soccer team in Ohio to win three consecutive state titles.

"The regular season tells a tale," said Coach McLaughlin after Saint Ignatius Soccer completed its seventh undefeated regular season, six of those coming under Coach McLaughlin '85. "The regular season gives you some ideas of what you're capable of and what you need to tune up.

"I feel like we've made progress, we've grown throughout the season," Coach McLaughlin continued. "So now I'm excited to make the march towards Columbus."

It is a path the marvelous program from Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School knows quite well.

SIDELINE TIDBITS: After the bells from a nearby Church tolled for the noon hour, Steve Milhoan provided the first two goals on perfect Autumn afternoon in a perfect setting. It was a 3-0 match at the halftime break after senior forward Alex Gotsky scored off a nice ball from senior defense Tommy Patacca.

Steve's five second-half goals came off an array of assists, as the 'Cats went on to outshoot the Titans, 35-7. Backup senior goalkeeper Max Heath had three saves. Max, who backs up fellow senior standout Lodge Dils, would probably be a starter for 85 percent of the other teams in Northeast Ohio.

For the majority of the second half, Saint Ignatius did what Coach McLaughlin urged his to do during the halftime break - "The right thing at the right moment." That statement came after Coach McLaughlin pointed out that Berea-Midpark was winning the 50-50 balls during the late stages of the first half.

A tip of the corner's cap goes out to Titans junior goalkeeper Dominic Baglier, who made some nice saves and displayed a big heart in the process. Berea-Midpark entered Saturday's matchup with the Wildcats carrying an overall record of 5-9-1 and a mark of 4-5 in the SWC.

Saint Ignatius will take a 52-match unbeaten streak into OHSAA postseason play, a record that dates back to the 2014 state championship season.

As always, this old-timer wants to thank Saint Ignatius' outstanding Assistant Coach Joe Popelka '84 for the invaluable stats and team info he provides every season.

THE BRENNAN BUS KEEPS ROLLING

Saint Ignatius' outstanding Junior Varsity Coach Jim Brennan '85 guided his JV A Cats to a record of 13-0-1 in what was his 21st year as the head of the Junior Varsity Program at his alma mater and his 24th year total as a coach.

After Saturday's 9-0 victory over Berea-Midpark's Jayvees, Jim's overall record is an incredible 266-23-24 for an .850 winning% (.927 with ties).

This season marked the ninth time Jim's JV team has not lost a game (and only 5 losses in the last 14 years).

Here is the breakdown on the nine goals the JV Cats scored on Lou Groza Field.

Kyle Folds from Henry Curtis; David Vrablic from Henry Curtis; David Vrablic from Byrce Horton; Kyle Folds from David Vrablic; Daniel Kalic from Henry Curtis; a penalty kick by Ryan Notarianni; Kory Nekoloff unassisted; Josip Katic from Nekoloff; and Notarianni unassisted.

FROM COACH BRENNAN: "They are an amazing gifted group of guys," Coach Brennan said of his 2016 Junior Varsity A. "It was a young team, overwhelming with freshmen and some sophomores. This season we had to play against teams that were heavily junior laden, so that is always a question mark. Physically are we going to be able to play against older players?

"But these guys were smart enough to move the ball around and compensate for some physical differences, adjusting to the fact that at times they were much bigger than we were. So we couldn't play in the air, we had to play on the ground.

"This team has a very bright future. These classes (freshmen and sophomores) are very, very gifted, the freshmen class in particular. I know we're going to be losing a lot of seniors on the Varsity, but the future is very bright. I am really sorry to see this season coming to an end."