St. Ignatius gets past Medina again in OHSAA boys soccer Division I state semifinals; sets sights on fifth straight state title

St. Ignatius will look to win its fifth straight Division I boys soccer title after defeating Medina in the state semifinals

BRUNSWICK, Ohio - When it comes to boys soccer playoffs, St. Ignatius and Medina had been here before. Literally.

Wednesday night was the fifth consecutive year that the two teams had met at Brunswick's Auto Mart Stadium in the OHSAA Division I postseason, with four of the five being in the state semifinals, as was Tuesday's game.

With a 3-0 win, it was the fifth straight season that St. Ignatius has eliminated Medina and will now look for its fifth straight Division I title when they play Archbishop Moeller on Saturday, November 10 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus at 4:00 pm. 

"The road to Columbus the last several years leads through this game, this night," St. Ignatius head coach Mike McLaughlin said. "I have so much respect for Medina and what they've done and they brought out the best in us. I think this was our best game of the season. I know it was our best game and it was because it was against Medina. And if we weren't our best we would have no chance against these guys. That's how good they are."

The Wildcats didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as a St. Ignatius corner kick was headed by Medina across the box, where it was chested by St. Ignatius junior Rafa de la Barrera to the foot of junior Justis Olorunto, who kicked it inadvertently off the shoulder of David Salukombo and into the net in the 3rd minute. 

"(Getting an early goal) changes everything," McLaughlin said. "The coinfidence it gives you in these games. Basically if you can shut the other team out, you win." 

St. Ignatius added to its lead in the 17th minute as Salukombo lost the ball in the box but senior captain Nicholas Trivisonno was able to beat Media goalkeeper Donny Taylor to the ball and tap it into the net to make it 2-0.

Medina had a chance to cut the St. Ignatius lead in half with just over 11 minutes to play when Owen Alber stood over a penalty kick. The Medina senior shot it low and to his right but St. Ignatius goalkeeper Colin Monroe was up to the task, reading the ball correctly and diving to his left to make the save. It was one of only three saves on the night he was forced to make.

"Thats the life of a St. Ignatius goalkeeper," McLaughlin said. "You don't get a lot of action but you have to win the moments when they come."

The Wildcats added a third goal in the 59th minute, as Bryce Ince-Lovelace found Salukombo, who buried it in the back of the net for his second goal of the game.

"Those are great team goals," McLaughlin said. "They weren't individual effort goals." 

This was one of those games that St. Ignatius has come to be known for in the last 15 seasons, when they have won 10 state titles. But some people didn't think this team had what it takes to get back to Columbus.

"Everyone's saying, 'Oh, Ignatius isn't the same team,'" Salukombo said. "But that gave me more motivation to show that we're still one of the best and just watch out for us."

Now the task gets even more difficult for the Wildcats if they want to secure that fifth straight state title, as Moeller has recorded 23 straight shutouts after a 1-0 win over St. Charles in the other state semifinal.

The St. Ignatius head coach had a simple philosophy on what it would take to hoist the trophy on Saturday.

"Go put the ball in the back of the net and get the ball and go do it again," McLaughlin said. 

(Feature photo: St. Ignatius boys soccer coach Mike McLaughlin addresses his team during a game agianst Calvert Hall (Maryland) on October 8, 2022. Photo credit: Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports)