By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, November 24, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team finished with a splendid 19-3-2 overall record in 2024 that included a 6-1 mark in the postseason.

The Quakers ran the table at 4-0 in winning the WPIAL Class 2A championship, then went 2-1 in the PIAA playoffs to reach the state’s final four.

“Throughout the playoffs, we started a new trend to recognize our supporters,” said Maggie Behun, who shares the QV coaching duties with Rachel Loudermilk. “We write down names and relay the list to the girls to show them just how much people care about their success and desire to win. They are just as proud.

“The list could go on for miles: past QV coaches, parents of players who played at QV, QV alums and not just the soccer ones and Sewickley residents, friends and family. It’s heartwarming and truly remarkable.”

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, December 1, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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A soccer legacy has been initiated in the Quaker Valley girls soccer program.

It was actually kicked off four years ago when Rachel Loudermilk and Maggie Behun took over as co-head coaches, but the legacy took a giant leap in 2024.

“We are so proud of the girls and what they have accomplished,” Loudermilk said. “We told them at the start of the season that they had the potential to be great, but that it would take hard work, focus and by them building each other up and pushing each other.

“And they were up for that challenge. They showed up every day ready to work, focused on winning the WPIAL championship and a state championship. We didn’t bring home the state title this year, but the girls felt the glory of winning a WPIAL championship. They have started their own legacy now for QV girls soccer, and they are not ready to take their foot off the pedal. I expect next year they will come out just as strong and hungry.”

Behun was just as passionate when discussing QV’s banner season.

“Rachel and I anticipated that this year would be exceptional,” Behun said. “Aside from having a super talented group, in preparation for each match we wanted to make sure we brought our ‘A’ game as coaches. We always made sure to do our homework and effectively utilized our players, making sure we had the strongest 11 on the pitch.

“Despite challenges posed by illness and injury during the regular season, we remained steady and made adjustments as needed. The girls worked through it and were formidable. We would often tell the girls to demonstrate their ability to succeed and be the best. ‘Confidence’ was a key word this season, and the girls demonstrated this throughout the regular season, WPIAL and state playoffs.”

QV shared the Section 3-2A title with Beaver, won the WPIAL Class 2A championship advanced to the PIAA final four and racked up a 19-3-2 overall record. The Quakers took an impressive 15-game unbeaten streak into the state semifinals.

“Although our season concluded prematurely, as coaches we are immensely proud,” Behun said. “The girls established goals and met all but one of their objectives: state champions. While disappointing, the girls now have a new set of goals to pursue next season: section champions, WPIAL champions and, arguably most importantly, state champions.”

Strong defensive play was a key factor in the Quakers’ success in 2024. QV surrendered just one goal in three state playoff games, four goals in 10 section contests and only 11 all year.

QV’s defensive rotation consisted of senior Mia Modrovich, junior Emma Currier, freshman Mia Duckstein and sophomores Eliza Rahm and Maddie Gatehouse. Both Anna Hanley, a senior, and Maddie Gatehouse, a sophomore, played a holding midfielder position for the Quakers, keeping their eyes on the defensive end of the field while looking to also provide some offensive punch.

“Our defense had been solid all season with 17 shutouts, including two in the state playoffs,” Loudermilk said. “The coaches and the team had a ton of confidence in our goalie and our back line, which helped us to take some greater chances on offense to find ways to win.

“It was really fun to see some different players in the state playoffs stepping up to put the ball in the back of the net like Hope Waller, Maddie Gatehouse and Mia Modrovich.”

After edging Burrell, 2-1, in the WPIAL final thanks to freshman Lily Baker’s game-winning score, QV blanked Fort LeBouef, 2-0, and Trinity (Camp Hill), 3-0, in its first two PIAA games. Erie Cathedral Prep stunned the Quakers, 2-1, in the semifinal round.

“We went into the game knowing that it would be tough, that Cathedral Prep was a skilled and disciplined team,” Loudermilk said. “But the loss definitely was a hard pill to swallow because we had opportunities to win and just didn’t get it done. It felt incomplete.

“That is why we are already focused and looking forward to next year. This QV team is not done making its mark.”

Modrovich, a senior midfielder/defender, led QV offensively in the PIAA tournament with two goals and two assists. Sophomore forward Annabel Miko accounted for one goal and one assist while sophomores Hope Waller (F/MF) and Gatehouse (MF/D) added a goal apiece. Freshman midfielder/defender Mia Duckstein also tacked on one assist.

QV’s sensational freshman goalkeeper Anna Hajok stopped 15 of 16 shots in the tournament.

“The hardest part about the loss is knowing that our seniors won’t step on the field with a QV uniform on again,” Loudermilk said. “Mia Modrovich and Anna Hanley were freshmen when Maggie and I took over as co-head coaches. So these two girls have been with us from the start. They were our rocks and we wanted that state title for them.”

Behun labeled the PIAA semifinal game a learning experience.

“It was a disappointing conclusion to the season,” she said, “but we learned a lot from this loss. There are a lot of takeaways. We look forward to a reboot next season.”

By: Bill Beckner Jr. 
Sunday, December 1, 2024 | 3:39 PM

Trib HSSN Girls Soccer All-Stars

Player of the year

Molly Kubistek, Jr., GK, Peters Township

Molly Kubistek received a lofty honor last month when she won the sixth Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player Award, essentially crowning her the top player in the WPIAL.

For the first time, the selection committee chose a goalkeeper. With Kubistek, there wasn’t much to argue.

The junior from Peters Township also was an easy choice for the TribLive HSSN Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Kubistek, a Cincinnati commit and an all-state selection, led the Indians to a WPIAL Class 4A championship and a 19-1-1 record.

Peters Township, whose lone loss came against Central Dauphin in the PIAA first round (3-2, penalty kicks) allowed 11 goals all season.

It was a surprise when Kubistek didn’t record a shutout. Sh had 14 of them in 21 games, and has 36 in her high school career.

Perhaps her best clean sheet came in the WPIAL title game against Seneca Valley. The game was tied 0-0 after 80 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time before Peters Township won on penalty kicks (5-4) at Highmark Stadium.

All-stars

Grace Bannon, Sr., MF, Montour

All-state selection and WPIAL all-star had team-high 19 goals for WPIAL 3A quarterfinal team. Campbell commit also had 12 assists.

Alexis Brown, Sr., MF, Penn-Trafford

All-WPIAL performer led section-winning Warriors with 18 goals. Cal (Pa.) commit missed most of junior season.

Sydney Chontos, Sr., MF, Beaver

All-state and All-WPIAL selection had 29 goals for WPIAL 2A quarterfinalist. Robert Morris recruit had 60 career goals.

Natalie DiSora, Jr., D, Upper St. Clair

All-state and All-WPIAL pick powered a defense that allowed 18 goals in 18 games. Wake Forest commit also plays ice hockey.

Morgan Gesinski, Jr., F, Mt. Pleasant

All-WPIAL and all-state performer, she led the WPIAL in goals with 36. Division I prospect has 97 career goals.

Riley Kerr, Sr., MF, Greensburg Central Catholic

An All-WPIAL player, she led GCC with 20 goals. Racked up 122 career goals and is headed to St. Francis (Pa.).

Camryn Klein, Sr., MF, Peters Township

All-state and All-WPIAL accolades followed a key facilitator on a WPIAL 4A championship team. Had six goals and eight assists.

Julia Lishia, Sr., D, Mars

An all-state and All-WPIAL player who helped the third-place Fightin’ Planets limit opponents to 12 goals all season. Richmond commit had 12 goals and 15 assists.

Karly Majeski, Jr., MF, Seneca Valley

All-WPIAL and all-state pick was a section player of the year. Had 10 goals for WPIAL 4A runners-up.

Emily McKee, So., F, Fox Chapel

An All-WPIAL and all-state honoree, she led the Foxes to back-to-back WPIAL 4A finals appearances. Finished with 35 goals and 10 assists.

Mia Modrovich, Sr., D, Quaker Valley

All-state and All-WPIAL player was the centerpiece of a WPIAL 2A championship-winning defense that surrendered 11 goals in 24 games. She is a Case Western Reserve commit.

Robin Reilly, Sr., MF, Latrobe

An all-state and All-WPIAL selection, she had 15 goals and nine assists. West Virginia commit holds Latrobe records for career goals (61) and assists (44).

Brianna Ross, Sr., F, Springdale

Claimed All-WPIAL and all-state honors in leading Springdale to WPIAL Class A title and PIAA runner-up finish. Had 42 goals and 30 assists.

Simone Sharpless, Jr., F, North Catholic

An All-WPIAL performer scored 25 goals during the regular season and helped Trojanettes to third-place finish in WPIAL 2A and PIAA quarterfinals. A Western Michigan commit.

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.