Quaker Valley Edges Shady Side Academy for WPIAL Boys 2-A Gold

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 8:31 PM

A pair of first-half goals by senior Owen Harkins were enough to crown Quaker Valley WPIAL boys 2A soccer champions in 2016.  The Quaker Valley Quakers captured the eighth WPIAL boys soccer championship in school history with a 2-1 victory over fifth-seeded Shady Side Academy at Highmark Stadium.

Shady Side knocked off the top seed in class 2-A, South Park, in a 1-0 double overtime thriller, and kept QV from finding the back of the net for the first 24 minutes of play. The best opportunity for either team came when Quakers earned a penalty kick after a foul inside the box. However, Doran Kozel made a diving save on the attempt by Bando Grant to keep the match scoreless.

Quaker Valley threatened again with a free kick from Grant, and this time Harkins found the ball and powered it into the back of the net. The Quakers added on to their lead with 9:59 remaining in the half when Grant’s corner kick was headed for a goal by Harkins.

The Quakers controlled the first half in terms of possession and Owen a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. QV held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks in the first half as well.

In the second half, the teams battled nearly 30 scoreless minutes. Shady Side cut the QV advantage to 2-1 when Eric Zhang scored following a free kick by Brandon Brazinski. The Indians managed just one other shot on goal for the second half, and the Quakers held on to win 2-1.

Unofficially QV placed 14 shots on net compared to four by Shady Side. QV held a 7-4 edge in corners on the afternoon.

For QV, it’s the program’s first WPIAL championship since 2012 when the Quakers defeated Mars 2-1 in double overtime. Adam Richert’s goal with four seconds left in the second overtime lifted Quakers to the title four years ago. SSA has yet to capture a boys WPIAL soccer crown.

Both Quaker Valley and Shady Side advance to the  bracket on Tuesday. QV will take on Bald Eagle, the district six runner up. SSA will face the champion from district 10. The WPIAL will also send third place Beaver to states to take on the district five champion Everett. Sites and times are to be determined.

Scoring Summary:

26′ – QV – Owen Harkins (after free kick)

31′ – QV – Harkins header (Bando Grant corner)

70′ – SSA – Eric Zhang (after free kick)