CLEVELAND, OH - The Wildcats hosted their first home game of the 2025 season on Saturday when they entertained #10 Cumberland Valley (PA) from Krenzler Field on the campus of Cleveland State University. The Cats came off an Ohio Jesuit Cup victory after defeating St. Xavier 2-0 and Walsh Jesuit 4-0.
Cumberland Valley, located in Mechanicsburg, PA, was ranked 10th in the country by the United Soccer Coaches entering this season. They are coming off the program's best season, achieving a 25-1-1 record and winning a State Championship in Pennsylvania, the program's first.
Saturday would prove to be the first big test of the 2025 Wildcats. The Soccer Cats had early chances against the Eagles but were not able to find the back of the net.
The game's first goal would belong to senior captain Bryce Ince-Lovelace at the 18-minute mark of the match. It was a perfect pass into the box from Dom Ruggiero that was headed into the goal by Ince-Lovelace to give the Cats an early advantage.
With 11 minutes before the break, Russell Nank passed the ball into the box to senior captain Sammy Trivisonno. Trivisonno showcased phenomenal footwork and got around his defender, and powered a shot past the Eagle goal keeper to make it 2-0 Wildcats.
Before the break, the young talent of the Wildcats began to shine. Sophomore Gavin Woodhams would record his first varsity goal at the 34th minute of the match. A perfect cross pass from Ince-Lovelace set him up.
With 23 seconds remaining in the first half, the Wildcats' offense kept its foot on the gas, working the ball up the far side of the pitch. The Eagle goalkeeper sprinted out of the box as the pass was made to Woodhams. Woodhams would finesse a shot right over the head of the sprinting goalkeeper and extended the Wildcat lead to 4-0 at the half.
The Wildcats' scoring continued in the 47th minute of the match when Ruggiero pressed into two Eagle defensemen and the goalkeeper. All three Cumberland Valley players collided, but somehow, Ruggiero came out unscathed and had a wide-open shot to score, extending the Wildcat lead to five. Ruggiero would add a second goal at the 51st minute.
With 20 minutes left in the match, junior Gray Galauner would round out the Wildcat scoring, and the Wildcats would defeat Cumberland Valley, 7-0. The Soccer Cats improve to 4-0 on the season, and will have a rematch of the 2024 OHSAA Division I State Championship when they welcome St. Charles Prep to Krenzler Field on Saturday, September 6, at 2:30 p.m.
The first United Soccer Poll Rankings were released on Tuesday, and the Wildcats are ranked second in the Nation.
