Mount St. Mary claimed its first girls soccer state championship since 2008 Friday afternoon, toppling Bentonville West 4-1 in the Class 6A title game at Hot Springs Lakeside High School.
Ellison Giddings, a sophomore midfielder, powered the Belles with two goals — including the decisive strike eight minutes before halftime — and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Her first goal tied the match at 1-1, and her second put Mount St. Mary ahead for good.
“There’s no words for it,” Giddings said after the final whistle. “We’ve worked so hard this whole season and it came out. We’re so proud of ourselves. To get here is an amazing feeling.”
The victory snapped a 16-year title drought for the Belles, who built their lead with quick bursts in the second quarter. After trailing early, Mount St. Mary scored four times in a 38-minute stretch to pull away from the Mavericks.
Bentonville West struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes. But the Belles responded with relentless pressure, evening the score on Giddings’ first goal and surging ahead shortly before the break. By the end of the first half, the momentum had clearly shifted.
Head coach Ryan Doherty said the team’s resilience was on full display after the slow start.
“We knew we were going to have to dig deep,” Doherty said. “The girls never panicked. They stuck to the game plan, and when we got that first goal, you could feel the energy shift.”
Mount St. Mary’s defense stiffened in the second half, limiting Bentonville West’s scoring chances while adding two more goals to seal the outcome. The Mavericks managed one late score, but it was not enough to slow the Belles’ celebration.
The win marks a defining moment for a program that has steadily rebuilt over the past few seasons. For many of the players, it was their first taste of state tournament success.
“We’ve been working toward this all year,” said senior defender Anna Mitchell. “To finally get over the hump and bring a title back to Mount St. Mary means everything.”
The team returns to Benton County next week as state champions, where the school community is expected to welcome them home with a celebration. Details about a planned event have not yet been released.
For Bentonville West, the loss ends a promising season that saw the Mavericks reach the title game for the first time in program history. Despite the outcome, head coach Megan Rector said the team’s performance was a sign of things to come.
“I’m so proud of how far we’ve come,” Rector said. “This group has set the tone for what’s possible here. We’re not done yet.”
The Mavericks’ run to the championship game included several victories over top-ranked teams, and their emergence signals growing strength in girls soccer across Bentonville and the broader Northwest Arkansas region.
Friday’s game drew fans from across Arkansas, with strong support visible from both sides. The stands were filled with students, families, and community members who made the trip to Hot Springs to cheer on the local teams.
Mount St. Mary’s victory adds to a growing list of state titles for Benton County schools in girls athletics this spring. The momentum reflects the area’s increasing investment in youth sports and the development of competitive high school programs.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
