St. Scholastica Academy’s Doves hope to be soaring high this weekend as they defend their Division I state soccer title tomorrow afternoon going against the No. 6 seeded Mount Carmel Cubs (28-5) at Independence Stadium in Shreveport. The championship game gets underway at 4 o’clock.

SSA (13-7-1), the No. 12 seed, has put it all together late in the season especially in their playoff run to the championship contest.

The Doves have done enough offensively led by senior Danielle Beatty, a USM signee, who controls the midfield and directs things with precise free kicks. Her length on kicks provides the Doves with an advantage. Juniors Emily Descant and Ashley Martinez help spark the Doves offense up top energizing things in the SSA attack.

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The SSA defense has risen to the occasion in the playoffs with the Doves posting four quality shutouts. SSA blanked district rival Northshore 1-0 in the bi-district round and followed that up with a 1-0 regional round victory over St. Thomas More (21-5-3), the No. 5 seed. The Doves defended their home field in the quarterfinals outlasting Dominican (19-3-7), the No. 4 seed, 1-0 in overtime.

Perhaps one of the programs biggest victories came when the Doves blanked the previously unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Fontainebleau Lady Bulldogs (25-1-2) 2-0 in the semifinals played at the Dawg Pound. Beatty and Descant netted one goal each to help carry the Doves over their district rival to the championship contest. SSA blanked Fontainebleau 4-0 in last year’s championship tilt so the Doves along with head coach Mike Ortner are no strangers to the championship atmosphere, which will surround Independence Stadium tomorrow.

SSA junior goalkeeper Sara Kuebel has been consistent in net for the Doves and credits her defensive teammates with being solid day in and day out.

Kuebel said her defensive teammates are really good with clearing the ball and don’t allow many shots, which makes her job easier.

Coach Ortner said it has been a team effort throughout the season. He credits his back line of junior Natalie Childress, sophomore Lindsay Achary, junior Lauren Salles and senior Camille Shepherd with doing an outstanding job helping to limit shots on goal.

Ortner said he hopes his defense can continue its consistency.

“We need to limit Mt. Carmel’s opportunities on goal. Offensively, we have to make the most of our chances at the other end,” Ortner said.

Ortner, who has six seniors on his roster, said this is the most accomplished senior class in school history.

“We hope our seniors having been in this situation previously will pay dividends for us on Saturday,” Ortner added.