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Soccer Cats Remain No. 2 in the U.S.; No. 1 in Midwest and Ohio

By Joe Ginley, 09/11/18, 12:00PM EDT

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The first test against a nationally ranked team went well for the Saint Ignatius varsity soccer squad on Saturday. As a result, the Wildcats' national ranking is secured.

The Soccer Cats tied Louisville St. Xavier (KY) – the No. 5 team in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer / No. 11 by Top Drawer Soccer – on a rainy night in Cincinnati on Saturday, while missing three starters because of injuries.

In this week's USA TODAY Super 25 poll, the 5-0-1 Soccer Cats remain the No. 2 team in the country. Top Drawer Soccer still has the Wildcats in the top 5, too, though Saint Ignatius slipped from No. 3 to No. 4. 

The Wildcats will play three more of USA TODAY's Top 25 teams this season. No. 1 St. Benedict (NJ) and No. 10 Chaminade (NY) will each host the Soccer Cats in late September. Top Drawer has the two ranked at No. 1 and No. 24, respectively. Olentangy Liberty, who the Wildcats visit on October 13, are ranked No. 18 by USA TODAY.  

The Wildcats remain atop regional and state polls, too.

Top Drawer Soccer rated the men of Mike McLaughlin '85 as the No. 1 team in Ohio and the No. 1 side in the Great Lakes region. 

The Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association placed Saint Ignatius atop its weekly poll with 100 points. Olentangy Liberty is ranked No. 2. The Wildcats also play No. 10 Copley on September 15, and thoroughly defeated No. 9 St. Xavier earlier this year. 

The Wildcats will play next on Wednesday in Lakewood. The 3-4 St. Edward Eagles, not ranked in the OSSCA poll, will host the varsity Wildcats after the JV Wildcats vs. JV Eagles contest. The JV game is slated for 6 pm, with the varsity match tentatively set to start afterwards at 8 pm. The student section theme is a whiteout. Tickets are available in the Saint Ignatius Athletic Department on Tuesday and Wednesday during the school day. 

The next home game for the Soccer Cats will be on Saturday, as the squad hosts Copley. The contest will be Camper Appreciation Day on Wasmer Field.