A-K Valley sports notebook: Springdale girls soccer coach Marc Bentley steps down

By: Michael Love
Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 4:47 PM

Marc Bentley has concluded his tenure as coach of the Springdale girls soccer team.

He stepped down from the position last week.

The Dynamos mentor came on board in the summer of 2019, replacing Jerry Concannon after Concannon’s successful stretch as coach from 2007-18 that included five straight trips to at least the PIAA semifinals and the PIAA finals in 2009 and 2011.

Bentley enjoyed his own run of success since the 2019-20 season. Springdale made the playoffs in each of his seven seasons at the helm and compiled an overall record of 101-34-2.

His 100th victory with the Dynamos came in a 2-1 overtime triumph over District 5 champion Windber in the PIAA Class A first round Nov. 4.

The final win came four days later as Springdale topped Sewickley Academy in a dramatic quarterfinal shootout at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium.

Springdale, which ended its run in overtime of the PIAA semifinals against Bishop Guilfoyle, was 15-3-1 overall with a third-place WPIAL finish.

“The program is in a good place with a lot of freshman and sophomores playing a lot of valuable minutes in huge games in recent seasons,” Bentley said.

The Dynamos showed consistency under Bentley’s leadership with trips to at least the WPIAL semifinals each of the past five seasons as well as this year’s fourth consecutive berth in the PIAA tournament.

Springdale, which went a combined 86-17-1 over the past five seasons, returned to the top of the WPIAL mountain with the 2024 championship victory over Winchester Thurston, 5-3, at Highmark Stadium.

Norris joins local pro soccer team

Former Highlands boys soccer standout Gabe Norris, who enjoyed a strong collegiate career at Robert Morris and graduated in 2024, is one of five former RMU players continuing their professional careers with Bridge City FC of Major League Indoor Soccer.

The Pittsburgh-based expansion team plays its home games at the Sewickley Sports Arena.

In Bridge City’s first match, Norris recorded a goal and an assist in a 9-8 win over Fort Wayne Summit City Sentinels.

“It felt really good to get on the scoresheet,” Norris said in comments made to Robert Morris athletics.

“Having been more of a defensive player at RMU, it was fun to have a bit more of an attacking role with indoor being naturally more of an attacking game.”

Norris tallied a goal in Bridge City FC’s second game, a 6-2 win over Lansing Red Cedar FC.

Bridge City FC’s next game is at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at home against the Toronto Canadian Crusaders.

Norris helped RMU capture its first Horizon League Championship in 2024, beating Oakland, 1-0, in the title game. He appeared in 61 games during his four years with the Colonials and scored five goals and added two assists.

Mull reaches milestone

Plum girls basketball coach Rich Mull picked up his 100th win with the Mustangs in his team’s 43-24 win over Kiski Area on Dec. 8.

It was part of a six-game winning streak after a season-opening setback to former section rival Indiana.

The streak continued in the next game at Franklin Regional on Dec. 11. Plum edged the Panthers, 33-31, in the Section 1-5A opener for both teams.

The next night, at home, the Mustangs topped Hempfield, 47-35. The night was even more special for Mull, who was honored for his milestone win in a ceremony before the game.

Mull, in his second stint as Plum girls coach — he also led the Mustangs from 2000-06 — owns 103 wins with the program.

He led Plum to its first playoff win with an upset of No. 3 Ambridge in the first round of the 2001-02 WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

One of Mull’s 103 victories came at home against Montour in the preliminary round of the 2023 WPIAL Class 5A tournament. Plum is 42-36 in Mull’s second tenure with Plum.

In between his Plum stints, Mull went 22-6 at Fox Chapel in 2008-09 and led the Foxes to the WPIAL Class 4A title game.

The Mustangs (6-2, 2-1) hope to bounce back from Friday’s 38-32 loss to defending section co-champion Shaler when they return to action Dec. 30 against Woodland Hills at the Pete Sauer Memorial tournament at Shady Side Academy.

Geist settling in at The Rock

Knoch graduate Jordan Geist, a two-time NCAA Division I shot put national champion and current world-ranked shot putter, continues to settle into his role as a full-time assistant throws coach with the Slippery Rock University track and field program.

The Rock athletes competed in three meets earlier this month to begin the indoor season.

Geist is overseeing those competing in the shot put and weight throw.

SRU senior Seaton Wozniak, a graduate of nearby Slippery Rock High School, put a smile on Geist’s face by setting the men’s school record in the shot put with a winning toss of 17.96 meters at the indoor Youngstown State Ice Breaker on Dec. 5.

Geist, the son of Slippery Rock Hall of Famers and volunteer assistant coaches Jim and Judy Geist, set national records as a thrower at Knoch.

He moved on to Arizona, where he won the 2018 Pac-12 shot put and discus titles and was named the Pac-12 freshman of the year.

He set Wildcats records in the indoor and outdoor shot put and the hammer throw and won the 2023 NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor national shot put titles. He earned 11 NCAA Division I All-America honors while also twice being named first-team Academic All-American.

Geist, a 2021 and 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials competitor, continues to throw internationally as a professional on the World Diamond League circuit. He is top five in the current U.S. rankings.

Recruiting

Apollo-Ridge senior Josalin McCauley signed to play volleyball at Geneva.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Springdale