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.”
QV football players honored
Several players on the Quaker Valley football team were named all-conference this year. QV competed in the Class 3A Western Hills Conference.
Senior Jack Diemert led the way as a first-team selection on defense. Diemert was chosen as an athlete on the defensive side.
Kris Brown, a junior, was lauded as a second-team offensive lineman. Brown also received honorable mention status at defensive end.
Sophomore Aris Haniotes landed honorable mention plaudits as both an offensive lineman and defensive end. He also was voted to the second team as a long snapper.
Other honorable mention selections for the Quakers were juniors Logan Benedict and Ben McHenry at wide receiver and defensive back and senior Dom Cox-Giles at outside linebacker.
Eden wins tight section
One of the tightest races in girls soccer this season developed in Section 1-A.
Four teams battled for the top spot eventually taken by Eden Christian Academy with a 7-2-1 record.
The Warriors finished ahead of Freedom (7-3), Riverside (6-3-1) and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (6-4) to claim the section championship.
Eden defeated OLSH twice, went 1-0-1 against Riverside and lost twice to Freedom, which rallied in the second half of the season with five consecutive wins in league play.
The Bulldogs lost to Riverside twice and Mohawk once, which cost them the section title.
Eden captured six of eight games at midseason including a 1-0 win Oct. 7 against Mohawk that clinched the title for the Warriors.
The Warriors have advanced to the postseason in four of the past five seasons.
All-star rosters set
Four area senior athletes were selected to play in the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association boys all-star games set for Nov. 30 at Pine-Richland.
Quaker Valley’s Colin Benge, a forward, and Andrew Vescio, a defender, were chosen on the Class 2A squad. Eden Christian’s Cole King, a midfielder, and Roman Reichart, an outside back, were named to the Class A team.
The first game at Pine-Richland features Class A vs. Class 2A all-stars at 11 a.m., followed by Class 3A vs. 4A at 1 p.m.
Mining soccer gold
Did you know that Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley have won seven WPIAL championships between them in girls soccer?
The Panthers earned WPIAL crowns in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004; the Quakers won championships in 1991, 1992 and 2024.
In boys soccer, Quaker Valley, with 10, and Sewickley Academy, with seven, have amassed 17 district championships between them.
The Quakers were WPIAL titlists in 1985, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2012, 2016, 2019 and 2021.
The Panthers earned titles in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2016.