A player’s perspective: Former QND girls soccer standouts reflect on Longo’s impact on tradition-rich program last 34 years

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | May 18, 2023
The first Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team in 1990 launched what became an incredible run of success with Mark Longo, back row far left, at the helm the past 34 years. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — The winningest girls soccer coach in Illinois High School Association history impacted the lives of those he coached far beyond the white lines. That became abundantly clear with the reaction three decades worth of Quincy Notre Dame players had Tuesday when Mark Longo announced he was retiring following 34 years at the helm.…

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A legacy unmatched: Longo retires after 34 years at helm of QND girls soccer program

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | May 17, 2023
Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Longo never endured a losing season during his 34 years at the helm, winning a state-record 608 games. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The final sentence in a small paragraph next to the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team photo in the school’s yearbook in 1990 may have been the ultimate foreshadowing. “Another tradition of Raider soccer, at its best, had begun!!” it read. It became a tradition no other program can match. The architect of…

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

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | May 30, 2022
The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team returned home to The Pit on Sunday for a celebration of its Class 1A state championship that included "6" balloons in honor of the program's sixth state championship. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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