Conditions were far from ideal as the Saint Ignatius soccer squad took on the Lakewood Rangers on Saturday. Cold, rain, and an away crowd were only a few factors the Wildcats had to overcome at Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Saturday evening.
The contest started out back and forth. Both teams exchanged possessions and couldn't find a rhythm.
The Wildcats attempted two very good chances early, one of which left Bryce Horton with lots of goal to aim at seven yards out, but it skyrocketed over the net.
As the Wildcats were showing pressure, they earned themselves a free kick just outside the right edge of the area. With the Rangers making their wall, the keeper checking his measurements, and the other Wildcats seeming unfazed, Matt McLaughlin quickly took the kick and shocked everyone. His low roller streamed toward the far left post past a speechless keeper, sending the Ranger fans into an uproar.
A completely legal move, McLaughlin's notched the goal with 17:10 left in the first half, netting his most savvy goal of the season.
From then on, the Wildcats looked like the team to beat. They dominated possession and senior captain Ryan Mark was not tested in net the entire first half.
The second half began with the Rangers looking hungry for an equalizer. Yet, it was the Wildcats who scored the next goal.
Kyle Folds was in the right place at the right time. A ball swung into the area, hit Everett Shorey’s head, took a deflection, and landed at the feet of Folds on the left side of the six-yard box. Folds buried it past the keeper to bring the Cats lead to a comfortable 2-0.
That scoreline held until the final whistle, yet Korey Nekoloff came the closest to breaking that stalemate, with a volley off a cross moving quickly towards goal. The ball sailed just wide, unfortunately.
The Wildcats were awarded the District Champs trophy, and have only four more wins to raise a ninth State Championship banner.
The Wildcats are set to face Massillon Jackson on Wednesday at Nordonia High School at 7 pm. SIBN will have live, audio-only coverage.