By Mary Woodward
CLINTON – Another diocesan Catholic school has brought home state championship hardware. The Madison St. Joseph Lady Bruins soccer team captured the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Division 3A/2A/1A championship with a three nil victory over South Pontotoc.
The match, played Feb. 7, at Clinton High School’s Arrow Field on a mild, sunny day, is the Lady Bruins second state title. The first title was in 2006.
Not surrendering a single goal in post season the team relied on solid defense and quickness throughout the playoffs. During the semifinal keeper Bridget Abadie blocked three penalty kicks in an overtime shootout against defending state champion Our Lady Academy (OLA) to propel the Lady Bruins to the championship match.
Allie Milner, Katelyn Hanneke, and Joanna Bellan accounted for the three goals as the stingy Bruin defense held South Pontotoc scoreless.
St. Joseph defeated three other Catholic school teams including OLA from Bay St. Louis to make it to the final match. They topped Pascagoula’s Resurrection High School 4-0; Hattiesburg’s Sacred Heart 3-0; and finally OLA 1-0. Either Sacred Heart or OLA has won the last five state titles.
For Head Coach Dwayne Demmin the title gives him eight state championships with St. Joseph. He has seven with the boys team to add to this his first with the girls team.
The Lady Bruins finished the season 17-6-1.