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KEITH BARNES AND MATT PRESS

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SEP 17, 2025

4:00 AM

Athletes of the Week, presented by Dave & Buster’s, recognizes the top high school performances around the WPIAL and City League throughout the year.

Last week: Miko, a junior, had four goals and an assist in Quaker Valley’s 9-0 win against Hopewell on Sept. 10. Three days later, she announced her commitment to play collegiately at Delaware.

Check this out: The Quakers beat Burrell 2-1 in last year’s Class 2A WPIAL title match, marking their first district championship since 1992. Miko’s mother, Ashley, was a part of that team. They also won in 1991, the program’s first-ever WPIAL title.

You had your 50th career goal a couple weeks ago. How did it feel to accomplish that? It felt great, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates. There’s 11 girls on the field, and I couldn’t do it without the other 10. I definitely have to pay it all to my teammates.

What led to the decision to commit to Delaware? I love coach Kelly (Lawrence). The campus is great, it’s a cute little college town. It just kind of felt like home as soon as I got on campus. I had a great connection with the girls as soon as I got there.

When did the relationship start, and what was the whole recruiting process like? They came to one of my games last season and showed interest there. I went to an ID camp over the summer, and a little later in the summer, I went on my visit. It’s been a good journey.

As a junior, is it nice to have the commitment out of the way now?It’s definitely nice. I feel like it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. The recruitment process is a lot. I feel like I can kind of enjoy myself a little more now.

What was it like winning the WPIAL championship last year?Before that, the last time we won was when my mom played, so it definitely meant a lot for the community for us to finally be able to win that WPIAL championship. The feeling was just unreal.

Do you think you and your mom are similar players? Well, she always says her team was nothing like our team.

How so? They used to play on a grass field, and she said they didn’t have as much soccer skill, but they had more grit. She says that’s different, but I think our team showed grit.

You play for Beadling Soccer Club as well. Are there any differences between how you approach academy and high school games? I see it as the same game with the same goals. I put 110 percent effort out on the field every game — got to try and win and play your best.

Favorite thing to do off the field? I really like to wakesurf. We always go to Deep Creek in the summer.

Are you doing any tricks? Maybe some flips? I’m trying to get a 360 down. I almost got it. I almost landed it. Hopefully next summer.

You can watch one TV show or movie for the rest of your life…Outer Banks.

— Matt Press

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Christopher Horner | TribLive 

Quaker Valley’s Mia Duckstein (right) had two goals in a season-opening win over OLSH.

The Quaker Valley girls soccer team had nine reasons why its season-opener was a successful outing.

The Quakers blanked Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 9-0, on Aug. 28 as six players scored goals for the winning side.

Freshman MF/ATT Ella Plachecki, senior MF Ari Bosh and sophomore MF/D Mia Duckstein collected two goals apiece to lead the way offensively.

Juniors ATT/MF Annabel Miko and Hope Waller and sophomore ATT Lily Baker each added one goal.

QV also defeated Burrell, 2-1, on Aug. 31 as Miko and sophomore MF Lily Carver scored once.

Sophomore Ava Hajok was the winning goalkeeper in both games.

Miko, who collected 29 goals last season, raised her career total to 49 goals.

Hajok surrendered just five goals in 22 games in 2024.

The QV girls are hoping to repeat as section and WPIAL champions this season followed by a strong PIAA playoff run.

The Quakers hung on to beat Burrell, 2-1, in the 2024 WPIAL Class 2A championship Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium. QV finished 19-3-2 overall and tied for first with Beaver atop the section standings.

QV coaches Maggie Behun and Rachel Loudermilk predicted a first-place finish for their team in Section 3-2A this year, followed by Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley, Hopewell and Ambridge.

QV is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A in the Trib HSSN WPIAL girls soccer rankings.