Girls soccer rivalry between Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy boosted by teams’ success

By: Ray Fisher
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The girls soccer programs at Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley have enjoyed the results of the first half of the 2024 season.

Sewickley stood at 5-0-1 in Section 3-A and 5-1-1 overall. The Panthers scored 30 goals and surrendered 11 in seven games.

“Our season has gone fairly well so far,” said Katherine Varghese, a senior forward/midfielder at Sewickley. “We’ve had some very competitive section games and have performed well under pressure and kept our composure.

“Coach (Gary) Weber is continuing to run excellent practices that cause our growth in terms of technical and tactical understanding.”

Varghese and Quincy Sirko, a senior midfielder/defender, are co-captains.

“I think our record speaks to how our performance has been (in 2024),” Sirko said. “We’ve continued to build off of each game and strengthen our team as a whole. I only hope we can keep this upward trajectory as we start the second half of the season.”

Sewickley’s starting lineup has shifted a bit since the early going.

Sophomores Emma Eannarino and Grace Jardini and junior Makenzie Dice start at forward. At the midfield area are Varghese, Sirko and sophomore Olivia Stefanik.

Defensive specialists consist of juniors Marin Edmunds and Bella Ballard, along with sophomores Emilia Carrabba and Josephine Courtney. Maria Bigi, a senior, is the starting goalkeeper.

As of Sept. 23, Eannarino (10 goals) and Jardini (seven goals) led the team in scoring. Varghese and sophomore Mya Spadafore each scored four times while Sirko and Stefanik added two goals apiece. Dice rounded out the scoring column with one goal.

Quaker Valley, meanwhile, was 8-2-1 with an impressive nine shutouts and just five goals allowed. The Quakers were 5-1 in Section 3-2A, a half-game behind Beaver.

Freshman Ava Hajok and junior Clara Herman share the QV goaltending duties.

The team’s defensive rotation includes senior Mia Modrovich, junior Emma Currier, freshman Mia Duckstein, senior Anna Hanley and sophomore Maddie Gatehouse.

Sophomore forward Annabel Miko leads the team offensively with 14 goals, including a four-goal performance against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and hat tricks against Hopewell and Ambridge.

Ari Bosh, a junior midfielder, has complemented Miko on offense with seven goals.

“I’m proud of how our team has performed so far this season,” Miko said. “We have set high goals, and we are working hard every day. I’m confident in our team, and I feel lucky to be a part of our success.

“I looked at our schedule at the beginning of the season, and I set a personal goal for each game. I want to make sure I’m making a positive impact. One aspect that helps our team be successful is that we are friends on and off the field. We are supportive and protective of each other. I’ve played with many of my teammates since early elementary school.”

The QV coaching staff likes to mix and match the lineup according to a particular opponent.

Against Avonworth, for example, Modrovich, Currier, Duckstein and Hanley manned the defensive front. At midfield and attacking, the starters were Miko, Bosh, Gatehouse, and sophomores Hope Waller, Rowan Wallace and June Lukasavage.

Modrovich, Currier and Hanley are co-captains.

“We’ve been playing good,” Modrovich said. “We’ve been able to come out of most games with a win which is always a positive thing.”

One of perhaps the biggest games of the regular season for the two teams takes place Friday when Sewickley hosts the Quakers in a nonsection matchup.

Players on both sides addressed the recently revived rivalry. It’s not the Hatfield vs. McCoys, but important bragging rights will be at stake.

Both Varghese and Sirko said they’re excited to compete against the QV girls.

“I am excited,” Varghese said. “It’s a great opportunity to compete against a talented team. I expect us to come out strong and continue to refine the skills we’ve been working on all season.

“I also expect us to have fun playing against girls we know from within the community. There’s a lot of anticipation facing the game; we consider it a rivalry.”

The Quakers edged Sewickley, 2-1, last season.

“I’m excited because I think it will be a good indicator of how much our team has improved since our last faceoff in 2023,” Sirko said. “My expectations are for us to continue to improve our skills and work together, though a win would be amazing and would help boost our team confidence. I think the most important thing is to stay healthy and continue to learn how to work together.

“I consider it to be a rivalry since both schools are in Sewickley and the matchups traditionally draw large crowds regardless of which sport it is. The QV games are met with anticipation and a student section every year. I look forward to the energy this game will have.”

Currier echoed her opponent’s sentiments.

“We’re all excited to play Sewickley Academy,” she said. “Last year, we had a fun game and won 2-1, so we’re hoping to repeat the win. We are coming into this game with the same high intensity that we hope to bring into the rest of the season.

“We consider it a bit of a rivalry since they’re pretty much in our backyard. However, this will be only the second year we’ve played them, so it hasn’t quite been a historic rivalry.”

Modrovich was aiming for repeat winning performance for the Quakers.

“I’m excited to play them,” she said. “It’s a fun and competitive game, so definitely something to look forward to. By working hard on the field and coming into the game with the right mentality, we’ll be able to win.”

Two of Miko’s best friends — Marin and Gabby Edwards — are on Sewickley’s team.

“It’s always fun to play against Sewickley Academy,” Miko said. “We are expecting a tough game. They have high-level players and an awesome coach. It’ll be a competitive game.”

Currier, meanwhile, is looking forward a second-half charge to the season by the Quakers.

“The team has been playing well recently,” she said. “A close loss to Beaver inspired us to pick up our play. We’re working to bring that momentum into the second half of the season.”

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy