Jackets lose 3-0 heartbreaker to St. Ignatius

Perrysburg junior James Barlett (16), left, and Cleveland St. Ignatius’s Karson Klapper (5), right, battle for control of the ball during the first half of a regional semifinal match on Tuesday at Contractors Stadium in Norwalk. St. Ignatius defeated Perrysburg, 3-0. (Scott W. Grau | Sentinel-Tribune)

By Yaneek Smith

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

NORWALK — On Tuesday night, Perrysburg put up a valiant fight before falling, 3-0, to Cleveland St. Ignatius — and this is not hyperbole — one of the nation’s top programs in a Division I regional semifinal at Contractors Stadium.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in Ohio, were tied with the Yellow Jackets (14-4-1) for the match’s first 67 minutes before Domenic Ruggerio scored on a header off a corner kick with 12:59 to play to give the Wildcats the lead for good at 1-0.

Martin McLaughlin scored on a penalty kick just over one minute later at 11:50 after Ryan Corrigan was knocked to the ground on a breakaway. His shot went to the right while Perrysburg goalkeeper Tucker Benge dove to the left.

Samuel Trivisonno scored with 8:48 to play off an assist from Ruggerio to close out the scoring.

St. Ignatius (12-4-2) had 15 shots on goal and the Jackets, ranked 11th in Ohio, had four.

Perrysburg coach Dennis Jeansonne had high praise for Benge.

“He was fantastic in goal,” said Jeansonne. “We prepared, and he executed the game plan. He and Freddie (Dowling) had 10 shutouts in our first 18 matches.”

Benge says it is a challenge facing the Wildcats.

“St. Ignatius is a great team, and they move the ball around well. When they come across, it’s hard to defend,” he said. “We did the dirty work.”

Until finally breaking the scoreless tie, the Wildcats controlled the pace of play and possession of the ball for much of the game’s first 67 minutes. But Perrysburg held firm and hung tough while Benge came up with some clutch saves.

Jeansonne credited his team for going punch-for-punch with the Wildcats.

“They executed the game plan phenomenally well,” he said. “That’s a very good team in St. Ignatius, they’re one of the top-ranked teams in the country, and we hung with them. We knew their talent level, but we knew we could compete with them.

“We knew it only takes one goal. As the match goes on, the team that’s expected to win can get a little nervous.”

It was the final match for Benge Dowling, Sawyer Scheff, Connor Motter, London Stock, Dylan Motter, Caden Giessler, Omar Touray, Isaac Clapper and Caden Williamson.

“A lot of thank yous for the seniors,” said Jeansonne. “Their dedication, and what they’ve done for everyone — they demand a lot from the underclassmen. They stepped up, and the underclassmen followed.

“I’ll remember this group of seniors. This team rallied around a player (Karson Klapper) that had brain surgery seven to eight months ago.”