St. Ignatius continued to log some excellent results and backed up their #1 single-school ranking with a 26-17 defeat of Rugby Ohio rivals St. Edward.
The matched was played with a slight breeze but chilly temperatures, and that made moving the ball a little difficult. But with referees Ian and Mark Seaton working together to referee the four levels of matches between the two teams, the games were in capable officiating hands.
In the A-side match, Ignatius struck first with junior prop Juan Pen crashing over the line on a nice inside ball from senior scrumhalf Eddie Patton.
"Eddie has been out the last three weeks for us under concussion protocol and made a tremendous difference in our play," said St. Ignatius Head Coach Dan Arbeznik. Senior Chris Fedor slotted the conversion and it was 7-0 Ignatius at the five-minute mark. Ten minutes later, St. Edward senior Jack Bradfield hit a penalty kick from about 45 meters. Having difficulty getting out of their own 22, Ignatius was under pressure from Ed's for a good portion of the first half.
However, some nice hands in the Ignatius backline, with junior flanker Nick Zolikoff and senior outside center Joe Johnson (making his first A-side start) got them out of trouble. And then a penalty game them a lineout near the St. Edward line, and with the take-and-maul, No. 8 Sean Soeder finished it off with a try, somewhat against the run of play. Ignatius led 12-3 at halftime.
In the second half, it was Ignatius that pinned St. Edward in their half. Some sustained pressure ld to a scrum five meters from the St. Edward trylin. From there senior center Chris Fedor executed a scissors with senior Joe Johnson, who scored between the goalposts. Fedor converted to make it 19-3.
Saint Edward responded with a try of their own, and flyhalf Conor Forrestal slotted the conversion from the touchline. Ignatius still had difficulty kicking out of trouble, but St. Edward couldn't make that pressure result in tries.
At the 55-minute mark, Ignatius took a scrum at midfield. A nice kick and chase followed by a devastating hit from junior wing Michael Fitzgerald put senior second row Joe O'Brien in for the try. Fedor converted for the 26-10 lead.
Saint Edward scored off a quick tap to finish the scoring at 26-17. It was a toughed-out, physical performance by St. Ignatius, who also won the B-side, C-side, and Frosh/Soph games.
Both teams now look for the Midwest Championships.
"In looking at our group as a whole, we're very excited for when we'll be healthy again," said Arbeznik. "We were down five regular starters this past weekend but should get them all back soon. We've been traveling seven of the last eight weekends to matches never closer than two hours away, so to have one at home was nice. We have a lot to work on but getting healthy is a priority."
Arbeznik said his team has succeeded thanks to strong senior leadership and the depth that allows younger players to fill in for absent players.
"The want-it factor is huge from these guys" said the coach.
The matched was played with a slight breeze but chilly temperatures, and that made moving the ball a little difficult. But with referees Ian and Mark Seaton working together to referee the four levels of matches between the two teams, the games were in capable officiating hands.
In the A-side match, Ignatius struck first with junior prop Juan Pen crashing over the line on a nice inside ball from senior scrumhalf Eddie Patton.
"Eddie has been out the last three weeks for us under concussion protocol and made a tremendous difference in our play," said St. Ignatius Head Coach Dan Arbeznik. Senior Chris Fedor slotted the conversion and it was 7-0 Ignatius at the five-minute mark. Ten minutes later, St. Edward senior Jack Bradfield hit a penalty kick from about 45 meters. Having difficulty getting out of their own 22, Ignatius was under pressure from Ed's for a good portion of the first half.
However, some nice hands in the Ignatius backline, with junior flanker Nick Zolikoff and senior outside center Joe Johnson (making his first A-side start) got them out of trouble. And then a penalty game them a lineout near the St. Edward line, and with the take-and-maul, No. 8 Sean Soeder finished it off with a try, somewhat against the run of play. Ignatius led 12-3 at halftime.
In the second half, it was Ignatius that pinned St. Edward in their half. Some sustained pressure ld to a scrum five meters from the St. Edward trylin. From there senior center Chris Fedor executed a scissors with senior Joe Johnson, who scored between the goalposts. Fedor converted to make it 19-3.
Saint Edward responded with a try of their own, and flyhalf Conor Forrestal slotted the conversion from the touchline. Ignatius still had difficulty kicking out of trouble, but St. Edward couldn't make that pressure result in tries.
At the 55-minute mark, Ignatius took a scrum at midfield. A nice kick and chase followed by a devastating hit from junior wing Michael Fitzgerald put senior second row Joe O'Brien in for the try. Fedor converted for the 26-10 lead.
Saint Edward scored off a quick tap to finish the scoring at 26-17. It was a toughed-out, physical performance by St. Ignatius, who also won the B-side, C-side, and Frosh/Soph games.
Both teams now look for the Midwest Championships.
"In looking at our group as a whole, we're very excited for when we'll be healthy again," said Arbeznik. "We were down five regular starters this past weekend but should get them all back soon. We've been traveling seven of the last eight weekends to matches never closer than two hours away, so to have one at home was nice. We have a lot to work on but getting healthy is a priority."
Arbeznik said his team has succeeded thanks to strong senior leadership and the depth that allows younger players to fill in for absent players.
"The want-it factor is huge from these guys" said the coach.