Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock won its first state high school soccer championship May 2 at Lady Razorback stadium in Fayetteville, giving Coach Donnie Bridges the ultimate retirement gift.
"Coach Bridges has had a long history with Mount St. Mary Academy and he will be missed," said president Sister Deborah Troillett, RSM. "He has touched the lives of nearly 500 young women over the years and his faith-based teaching and leadership will be his legacy to this school and to the Sisters of Mercy."
After 15 years at the helm, Bridges announced at the beginning of the season that this would be his last year, turning over the reins to Brian Clark. Clark has been working with Bridges for the past three years, but he has been coaching club soccer for the past 25 years.
The school lost in the semifinals in 2007. Between 1998 and 2000 the school made it to the finals but never won. After an embarrassing 6-0 loss to Bentonville in the season opener, the team rededicated itself and ended the season 19-1-1.
The opportunity to play Bentonville again with a state championship on the line would be the keystone of the strength and character of the team and its coaching staff.
"When the team went to northwest Arkansas for the state high school soccer tournament, we arranged for the girls to tour the new Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. In front of the hospital, the girls stopped and prayed for a little extra guidance at a statue of Catherine McAuley," Sister Deborah said. Both the school and hospital are operated by the Sisters of Mercy.
With leadership of 13 seniors, the Belles beat Bentonville after two overtime periods and a shoot out.
Eleven students from Catholic schools were named to the All-State Soccer Teams. Four students at Mount St. Mary Academy were named to the 7A girls team. They are Annie DeCoursey, Caty McMains, Katie Udron and Kathleen Zani.
Three students at Catholic High School in Little Rock were named to boys team. They are Chet Hemingway, Ben Sheard and Grant Womack.
Four students at St. Joseph High School in Conway were named to the 4A teams. The boys are Matthew Dail and Nick Heathscott and the girls are Brooke Enderlin and Sam Zinno.