The Division I state boys soccer championship game between Gahanna and Cleveland St. Ignatius would not necessarily be considered a David vs. Goliath type of matchup.

After all, the Wildcats were first in the state poll all season and Gahanna was second most of the time.

St. Ignatius was 22-0 and returned all but one starter from its state championship team the season before. The Wildcats were ranked No. 1 nationally and had outscored their opponents 86-6.

Their goalkeeper, Joe Kalt, had a state record 44 career shutouts and St. Ignatius was unbeaten in its previous 43 games.

Plus, St. Ignatius reached the state championship three previous times and won all three, with titles in 2004, 2005 and last season in addition to state semifinal losses in 1995, 1997 and 2000.

Considered the underdog, the Lions didn't let any of that bother them. They won 1-0 after outscoring the Wildcats 4-3 in a shootout last Saturday at Crew Stadium.

Gahanna was making its first state tournament appearance.

"I thought we could hang with them because I knew we had a defense that could stop them from scoring," said coach Dwayne Marshall, whose team finished 22-0-1. "I also thought, with our offense, we might be able to score once in regulation. We had some chances.

"But I knew with us being a senior-laden team, we wouldn't be in awe of them or intimidated in any manner. So, it was just a matter of us playing to our ability. We don't care what people were saying, we believed we could do this."

Senior Ryan Grimme stopped the Wildcats' first two penalty kicks in the shootout and the Lions converted on their last four tries, which were taken by Sean Lipps, Zach McClurg, Trevor Gates and Wil Trapp.

"I told the kids (before the game) 'this is for you,'" Marshall said. "'You've already proved you're a great team. You are going to prove it on the field and win it on the field.' They did it."

The Wildcats had the better of possession in the first half, but the Lions turned that around in the second. Gahanna finished with 18 shots and nine corner kicks. St. Ignatius had 12 shots and five corners. Grimme had four saves and Kalt had 10.

"We overcame everything and put it together and played a great second half," Trapp said. "We stuck together. It was a brotherhood out there all season and this is the result. It's an awesome feeling."

Gahanna had the best scoring opportunity in regulation, but Jon Grooms' attempt on a bounding ball from about five yards in front of a fairly open net sailed over the goal in the 75th minute.

Grimme made the toughest save of the game to send the game into a shootout.

Vaughn Spurrier, the state Player of the Year, got the ball in the box and shot from five yards, but Grimme reacted fast enough to knock the ball away with 7 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

"It was a great, great save," said junior midfielder Cody Popelas, who led the team in scoring in the postseason with six goals. "It truly was a team effort out there, just wonderful. I'm so spent right now. I'm tired, excited, amazed and I just don't know what else to say other than we executed extremely well as a team."

Marshall said he thought the game was over at the moment.

"I really did think it was over when I saw (St. Ignatius' point-blank attempt)," he said. "I was getting ready to give a concession speech to the kids. Boy, I'm glad I got to put that away and trade it in. I think neither team had legs left. Although (Spurrier) blasted the shot, it was almost right at Ryan where his quick reflexes could stop it. If the shot goes in any other direction, it was over."

The Lions played key minutes without Trapp, Christian Conte and Chris Davis, all of whom suffered leg cramps. Center back Ben Witkoff was spectacular and he played the overtimes after spraining an ankle. The team trainer worked on the ankle, but Witkoff refused to be taken out of the game. He was on crutches at the team celebration early Sunday morning.

"I was not coming out of the game and told them I could play through it," Witkoff said. "I wasn't losing my state championship."

That's the type of effort it took to derail the Wildcats.

"Their coach (Mike McLaughlin) agreed with me that this was the best final we've ever seen," Marshall said. "I know we're a little biased, but I'm in my 13th year and he's been around (as the St. Ignatius coach for 15 years). We've seen many finals. Both teams truly left it all on the field and you could see that after the game with so many players laying on the ground."