Ethan Morrison

Beaver County Times

LEETSDALE — Quaker Valley came into the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs hot after being crowned co-section champions after giving Beaver Area its first and only loss of the regular season back on Oct. 9. 

But on Tuesday night in the Quakers’ first-round matchup against Southmoreland, after a sluggish start, it took almost 50 minutes for Quaker Valley to find the back of the net before pouring on three more goals to defeat Scotties 4-0. 

With 30 minutes to play in the second half, Ariana Bosh took a shot in the middle of the pitch just outside of the box and buried it high just over junior goalkeeper Addyson Billheimer's reach to score her first of two goals on the evening. 

“I am very happy that I was able to finish the goal I kicked it with my right foot and I am left footed so it made me more happy because I did it with my other foot. I was just so happy because we are moving on to the second round of the playoffs,” Bosh said.

In the first half of play, the Quakers started slow as the Southmoreland backline pressured the Quaker Valley midfielders and forwards hard throughout the half.

The Quakers had several chances throughout the first 40 minutes of action but shots sprayed wide of the net. 

Along with the missed shots, sophomore forward Annabel Miko was called offsides 28 minutes in after putting it past Billheimer. 

“The missed chances were frustrating in the first half,” Quaker Valley co-head coach Maggie Behun said following the game. “Just because we work on ball placement a lot with the girls instead of going for that power finish and will be something that we may be working on later this week getting ready for the next round.”

After Bosh’s first tally, the Quakers settled down and continued to attack and ramped up the pressure on the Scotties backline.

That pressure allowed Quaker Valley to find the back of the net three more times in 26 minutes as Rowan Wallace, Lilly Baker and Bosh each recorded a goal. 

“I think that the first goal gave the girls the confidence they needed,” Quaker Valley co-head coach Rachel Loudermilk said. “When you are missing, you are rushed and playing nervous. Once you get that first goal in the back of the net, you can play with confidence, and that's what we needed.”

With the victory, Quaker Valley will move onto the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs as it will take on No. 7 Deer Lakes on Saturday at a place and time to be determined.