Schuckman: QND girls soccer program once again delivers when opportunity strikes

QUINCY — Mark McDowell did his best Avery Keck impersonation Sunday afternoon.

When opportunity struck, he delivered.

The Quincy Notre Dame principal took advantage of the recent addition of a large video board on the west wall of The Pit by having a picture loaded and ready to loom large over everyone during the welcome home ceremony for the QND girls soccer team following its Class 1A state championship victory.

So just before turning the microphone over to Raiders coach Mark Longo, McDowell directed the attention to the video board.

With one click of a button, an emphatic, fist-pumping Longo filled the oversized screen.

“I knew I was going to regret that,” Longo said while laughing about the image captured by KHQA’s Chris Duerr immediately after the super-sectional victory over Belleville Althoff.

The veteran coach’s reaction to that victory was one of a vast number of memorable celebrations the Raiders enjoyed during a magical run to the program’s sixth state championship, which was secured with a 1-0 victory Saturday night against Richmond-Burton.

Keck, a junior midfielder, scored off a feed from freshman Annie Eaton with 2 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in regulation, burying a left-footed shot into the upper left side of the netting.

It will go down as one of the most memorable goals in program history.

It was the third consecutive game QND won 1-0, getting a clutch goal from Lia Quintero in the second overtime against Althoff and a game-winner from Sophie Gramke against Normal U-High in the state semifinals.

Finding a way and locking down opponents — QND registered a school-record 10 consecutive shutouts and didn’t allow a goal in the postseason — is a hallmark of a program that rivals any in the state for consistency and success.

Following a 23-3-3 season, the QND girls soccer program now enjoys these numbers in its 32-year history:

• An all-time record of 593-102-72;

• An all-time winning percentage of .820;

• 32 consecutive winnings seasons;

• 12 20-win seasons;

• 12 sectional championships;

• Eight state trophies;

• Six state championships.

One of the reasons for such success — beyond coaching and a stream of talented players — was on display at The Pit. It’s the unwavering, neverending support of the QND family, be it parents and grandparents or volunteers and fans.

They filled the bleachers inside The Pit on Sunday the same way they filled the stands inside North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium and the courtyard outside the stadium in celebration on Saturday.

It provided another reminder of why this QND program remains at the top.

When opportunity strikes, no one misses.