‘Pride and joy:’ Quaker Valley girls soccer revels in 1st WPIAL title in 32 years

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 17, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Lily Baker is only a freshman at Quaker Valley, but she played like a savvy veteran in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game.

Baker knocked in the shot that gave the QV girls soccer team its first WPIAL crown in 32 years.

The No. 2-seed Quakers hung on to beat No. 9 Burrell, 2-1, in the championship game Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium.

“We set our sights on winning the WPIAL the first day we stepped on the field for preseason,” QV co-head coach Rachel Loudermilk said. “So, for the girls to work hard all season and bring home the title after 32 years was pretty sweet.”

Loudermilk and Maggie Behun share the coaching duties for the Quakers. It was always in their plans to compete for a district championship in 2024.

“The night before preseason began, we held a joint parent/player meeting covering rules and regulations for the upcoming season,” Behun said. “We also set expectations for the level of commitment we expect from the girls to maintain a positive team atmosphere.

“Prior to letting the girls go for the night, I recall taking a moment to directly convey the team’s potential. We emphasized the possibility of an exceptionally successful season if the girls played how we knew they can play. This group is special and willing to put in the hard work to win. Our motto throughout the WPIAL playoffs and PIAA run has been ‘Confident, not cocky.’”

Baker tallied the winning goal with 9 minutes, 31 seconds left in the second half of the WPIAL championship game. QV’s freshman goalkeeper Ava Hajok, bolstered by the team’s determined defensive corps, held Burrell scoreless the rest of the way.

“Once the (final) whistle blew, it was just pure pride and joy, watching our girls celebrate with each other,” Loudermilk said. “The whole bench rushed the field, and they all came together as one, jumping and screaming. That is what the focus of our season has been: working hard together.

“So to get to see the girls experience winning a championship title and knowing that as coaches we helped them get there, there really are no words to describe that feeling. It is a moment we will remember forever and the girls will remember forever. And we got to do it together. That is what sports are all about.”

Behun, as expected, was overjoyed immediately following the victory.

“As a Quaker Valley soccer alum and the co-head coach, the immediate feeling was elation,” she said. “They won WPIALs and distinguished themselves as the strongest team in 2A girls soccer in the area. The girls set a goal and met that goal; we couldn’t be more proud.”

Sophomore forward Annabel Miko assisted on the game-winning play and also scored her team’s first goal off an assist by Mia Modrovich, a senior midfielder/defender.

“I am so proud of my team,” Miko said. “We set this goal at the beginning of the season, and we achieved it. During WPIALs, we focused on one game at a time, battling great teams, while keeping our goal to get to Highmark. We needed to make adjustments after the first half to get focused and connected.”

Junior midfielder Ari Bosh initiated the game-winning play from the left wing. Bosh passed to Miko in front of the Burrell net, then Miko guided a pass to Baker, who tapped it in for the score.

“I’m just very happy for my team for winning the WPIAL title,” Bosh said. “Throughout the tournament, everyone’s effort was 100% and we just all wanted to win.”

Baker and Miko also scored a goal apiece in QV’s 2-0 semifinal victory over North Catholic.

The Quakers improved to 17-2-2 and brought home their third WPIAL title in girls soccer. QV won its first two championships in 1991 and 1992.

“The way the community has come together to support these girls is amazing,” Behun said. “It’s heartwarming, and truly remarkable.”

Burrell’s goal early in the second half was the only one allowed by the Quakers throughout the WPIAL tournament.

“We knew we had to shut down (Burrell’s) No. 26, Makiah Buchak,” Loudermilk said. “We saw how she could win a game in the last seconds like she did against South Park. And we knew that they were going to be tough.

“But at the end of the day, our message has been the same to the girls — to play our game. We have a lot of respect for the Burrell team. They are very talented, young and well-coached.”

The Quakers blanked Southmoreland, 4-0, Deer Lakes, 1-0, and North Catholic, 2-0, in advancing to the WPIAL finals.

Baker netted one goal in all four playoff games from her forward position, including the game-winner against Deer Lakes.

Behind Hajok — who made six saves against Burrell — and an undaunted group on defense, QV accumulated 15 clean sheets prior to the start of the PIAA playoffs.

“This has been such a fun year for QV,” Hajok said. “As a freshman, I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into high school sports, but it’s been a great year. The girls have a lot of chemistry and really communicate and play well together.

“Winning a WPIAL title still feels surreal. I know it’s a big accomplishment, but we all just go out and have fun playing soccer. Getting to win on top of it is awesome. We’ve played hard this whole tournament and hope we can continue it throughout states and into the coming years.”

In all, QV outscored WPIAL opponents by a 65-10 margin during the 2024 regular season and playoffs. That’s 10 goals surrendered in 21 games, along with just four allowed in 10 section contests.

QV’s defensive rotation throughout 2024 consisted of Modrovich, senior Anna Hanley, junior Emma Currier, freshman Mia Duckstein and sophomore Maddie Gatehouse, among others.

“I’m thrilled and so proud to have won the WPIAL title,” Currier said. “We’ve been working hard all season, and it was just our time to finally win. We were able to get the job done each game in the tournament and go into the final with zero playoff goals scored against us, which was a good confidence booster.

“Even when we weren’t playing our best game, we were able to get the results we wanted and keep pushing for that title. I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”

Tags: Quaker Valley