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Back to Columbus! Steve Milhoan, Riley Houde Key Cats' Dramatic State Semifinal Victory over Medina

By Eddie Dwyer, 11/10/16, 2:00AM EST

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By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit November 2016

Strongsville, Ohio - In a victory that Saint Ignatius' nationally acclaimed Head Soccer Coach Mike McLaughlin '85 described as being more about will and heart, than physical skill, the state's and nation's top-ranked Soccer Cats rallied to a 3-2, sudden-victory overtime triumph over a talented and tough-minded Medina team in Wednesday night's OHSAA Division I State Semifinal match at Strongsville High School's Pat Catan Stadium.

With the tension-packed victory over the 18-2-2 Battling Bees, Ohio's eighth-ranked program, Saint Ignatius, now 20-0-2 and riding an unbeaten streak of 58 consecutive matches, advanced to Sunday night's State Championship showdown with 21-0-1 St. Charles Prep from the Columbus area. The first touch from MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus will be 7 PM for what is a matchup of the top two teams in the Division I State Poll by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.  

The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the nation by both the Top Drawer Soccer SIMA Fab 50 poll and USA Today's Super 25, are seeking what would be a record third consecutive OHSAA Boys State Soccer Championship.

St. Charles Prep is ranked ninth in the nation by USA Today and 14th nation-wide by Top Drawer Soccer.           

Trailing, 2-0, with 7:34 remaining in the first half after Medina's gifted forward Justin Libertowski scored his second goal of the night, the Soccer Cats rallied behind All-American senior forward Steve Milhoan and the State Semifinal Magic Man, the humble, good-natured and talented senior forward Riley Houde.

Libertowski, who was coming off a hat trick performance in the Battling Bees' 3-1, Regional Championship victory over Sylvania Northview on Saturday, was the story for the majority of the first 40 minutes. Justin wrapped up his outstanding season with 37 goals.

Displaying the composure one would associate with the two-time defending and record seven-time OHSAA Division I State Champions, the Soccer Cats took some much-needed momentum into the halftime break after the marvelous Milhoan placed a powerful and perfect free kick into the back of the net with 46 seconds left in the first 40 minutes.

Riding that momentum, Saint Ignatius began to unleash its trademark pressure and tied the score at 2 on Houde's goal with just over five minutes gone in the second half.

The Wildcats' faithful will never forget Houde's game-winner over Toledo St. John's Jesuit in last year's State Semifinal, a 2-1 Sudden Victory Overtime thriller at Sandusky Perkins High School.

In the postgame that night in Sandusky, Riley Houde warned this veteran reporter that he wasn't a very good interview. My reply was, well, you sure can play soccer.

And oh by the way, Riley did just fine in that interview last season and again on Wednesday night.

"I think tonight was about overcoming adversity," Riley said after Saint Ignatius and Medina played in front of a large and enthusiastic week night and school night crowd at the home of the Strongsville Mustangs. "We were down 2-0 and I don't believe we were down this season until tonight. For us to come back from that shows a lot of maturity. I'm very proud of our team.

"The finish is the hardest part," Riley continued in reference to his tying goal. "I didn't have to do that this year, it was all Stephen (Milhoan). Being able to fight for your school, there is nothing in the world that compares to it knowing that everyone up in the Student Section is rooting for the school. It's amazing just taking all of that in."      

After both teams left it all on the pitch in regulation, a five-minute break took place before Saint Ignatius and Medina headed to the 15-minute Sudden Victory Overtime.

With less than five minutes gone in overtime, Milhoan, an Xavier University recruit and the reigning Ohio Player of the Year by Gatorade, sent home the ticket to Columbus off an authoritative penalty kick and the Wildcats' faithful could be heard up and down Lunn Road.

One of the classiest student athletes this reporter of nearly five decades has ever had the privilege and pleasure to cover, Steve upped his Saint Ignatius career goals record to 79.

"We came through because of what I have been telling you all year, that brotherhood really came out," said Steve, whose hometown is Medina. "We fought and we worked hard, and we didn't give up on each other.

"That first one gave us some life back," Steve continued in reference to career goals 78 and 79. "It got us going and when we came out for the second half, we knew we were going to have to fight even harder. And that's what we did. It was a true test of character and when adversity presented itself, we conquered it. On to the State Finals."

The shots on goal Wednesday night were 21-7 in favor of the Wildcats and the thrilling outcome was Coach McLaughlin's 100th postseason playoff victory in what is his 22nd season as the leader of one of the most storied programs in the history of high school soccer.

FROM COACH MCLAUGHLIN: "I'm so proud of these guys because there is the game that you play with your feet and the ball, and there is also the game that you play with your heart. There are games that really show what you're made of and how to battle with your teammates. Tonight was a great example of that.

"We saw glimpses and flashes of good things during the season, but to come out and do what they did tonight was just tremendous," Coach McLaughlin continued. "And what a great time to do it in front of an amazing crowd.

"Ok, we're down, 2-0, which is brutal. But I'm so proud that they put the ball on the ground and kept working, and working and working. When you do that you have a chance. Nothing is guaranteed, but they gave themselves a chance."