STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- St. Ignatius and Strongsville have been playing soccer against each other since 1985. The nationally ranked Wildcats will deposit Saturday's 4-1 victory in their memory bank. The Mustangs will just have to bide their time and hope they can get another shot at the state's second-ranked team, which would have to come in about a month...
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- St. Ignatius and Strongsville have been playing soccer against each other since 1985.
The nationally ranked Wildcats will deposit Saturday's 4-1 victory in their memory bank. The Mustangs will just have to bide their time and hope they can get another shot at the state's second-ranked team, which would have to come in about a month during the state tournament.
The undefeated Wildcats (14-0) were the first to say that the final score after Saturday's twilight affair at Strongsville's Ehrnfelt Soccer Complex was not indicative of the game.
"We dodged two bullets in the first 20 minutes," said St. Ignatius coach Mike McLaughlin, whose club leads the series at 15-9-6. "Then we were able to settle into a rhythm. This game was closer than the score. Strongsville has a team that can make it deep into the tournament."
The Mustangs (10-2-2), ranked No. 4 in Ohio, can only lament missing on their early chances.
Strongsville senior forward Cody Mizerik controlled the ball at the top of the penalty box, but was wide right on his drive eight minutes in. At the 15-minute mark, junior midfielder Jarrod Nadzan got the ball to senior forward Michael Cook, but his drive from 15 yards was over the crossbar.
"If those are in the net, it's a different game," said Strongsville coach Tobey Cook. "We had two good chances and we have to finish. I thought it was a reasonbly even first half. We couldn't break them down. I don't think it was indicative of the score."
The Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in the country in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 poll, were more than happy to escape and finally break the scoreless affair at the 25-minute mark.
On a corner kick by senior midfielder Luke Blades, Strongsville goalkeeper Austin Earley could not get a clean handle on the ball in traffic. Sophomore forward Tyler Sanda made it pay off as he drilled his shot into the back of the net from 12 yards out.
"I think someone hit it and I had to put a foot on it," said Sanda, who added a second goal with 10 minutes to play. "That was huge. It kind of shifted things. We felt we dodged it."
The Wildcats made it 2-0 on a goal by senior forward Yianni Sarris 12 minutes after the break. Sarris gained control in the goal box and took his time in beating the helpless Earley in close.
"At 1-0, it's anybody's game," said Sarris, who helped assert the Ignatius attack in the second half. "They are definitely one of the better teams we've played. The last few days it's been hard to concentrate in class because you are thinking about playing them."
The Wildcats put matters away with 10 minutes left on goals by junior Matt Foldesy and Sanda's second score a minute apart.
The Mustangs got their goal when Mizerik beat Wildcats' goalkeeper Brendan Cash with just under nine minutes remaining.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: , 216-999-5168 jmaxse@plaind.com