Mercy High School and Pipeline Soccer Club Reach Exclusive 5-Year Agreement for New State-of-the-Art Turf Field

Building on their long-time partnership, Mercy High School Baltimore and Pipeline Soccer Club have reached a five-year agreement for the exclusive year-round rental of Mercy’s Athletics Complex, including its new state-of-the art synthetic turf field, beginning Fall 2019. 

This exciting announcement comes just two weeks after breaking ground on the first phase of the multi-million-dollar Athletics Complex, which will ultimately include a state-of-the-art turf field with stadium lighting and seating and the Mary Anne Heckwolf ’66 Field for Pipeline Soccer Club’s elite teams to use. “We have been proud to partner with Pipeline Soccer Club since 2014,” notes Mary Beth Lennon ’85, president of Mercy High School. She continues, “Our new agreement regarding our state-of-the-art turf stadium and related facilities is a testament to Mercy’s continued leadership among independent girls’ schools in Baltimore and beyond. We are thrilled to offer an unparalleled experience to our own Magic athletes and to Pipeline’s talented players.”

Mercy Athletic Director Nick Gill adds, “I’m excited to be entering into this partnership with Pipeline Soccer Club. I grew up playing soccer with and against Pipeline President Sean Rush. I have watched Sean and Santino Quaranta build one of the most respected clubs in the country from scratch and I couldn’t be happier to host their teams in our new Athletics Complex. This is a win for Mercy High School, Pipeline Soccer Club, and Baltimore soccer."

Noting its central and accessible location, Rush states, “This impressive new facility at Mercy will offer our players a professional environment that will support their growth and allow them to compete at the highest levels.”

In December 2017, Mercy’s board of trustees announced that a state-of-the-art Athletics Complex was the school’s next major capital priority as identified in the school’s strategic plan, Mercy Moving Forward. The plan outlined more than $10 million in capital and programmatic priorities, including pursuit of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, renovated classrooms, modern restrooms, and new heating and air conditioning systems in the main academic building. To date, more than $5 million has been achieved toward those priorities. 

Additionally, the Athletics Complex has also captured the interest and imagination of Mercy alumnae and friends. Notable gifts to the complex include a recent $125,000 gift from The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation and $200,000 from the estate of Mary Anne Heckwolf ’66 and her family. Fundraising continues for this transformational project.