Sewickley Herald notebook: Co-coaches mean double trouble for Quaker Valley girls soccer opponents

It’s not often two individuals share the head-coaching role for a team. That’s the situation in the Quaker Valley girls soccer program, and it has worked out extremely well.

Maggie Behun and Rachel Loudermilk are in charge of the Quakers and almost seem attached at the hip.

During their tenure, QV has won two section titles, made four WPIAL playoff runs, reached the PIAA tournament twice and captured the 2024 WPIAL championship — the program’s first in 32 years.

“We spent three years as co-assistants first, learned how to split the work, and have been co-head coaches together since 2021,” Behun said. “Players have earned section, WPIAL and state recognition along the way. The part we are proudest of is the culture: trust, accountability and kindness. We treat these girls like our own.”

After finishing slightly under .500 in 2021 and 2022, the Quakers began their ascent to the district’s elite in 2023 with a WPIAL playoff appearance.

QV has been dominant over the last three seasons with 19-3-2, 16-4-1 and 5-1-1 records — 40-8-4 overall through seven games this year — and 19-2-1 in section play with two section titles.

Since 2025, the Quakers outscored the opposition 161-25 with 35 shutouts and are 81-8 against section opponents.

The highlight of the Behun-Loudermilk “tag-team” tenure came in 2024 when QV captured the WPIAL Class 2A championship and advanced to the PIAA semifinal round.

QV qualified for the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA first round last year.

And one more note: The Quakers were 7-1-1 in overtime decisions from 2023-25.

Emily Milanovich has been a steady No 1 player for the Sewickley Academy girls golf team, consistently shooting nine-hole rounds in the mid- to low-40s.

The talented senior linkster led the Panthers to recent wins over Blackhawk, 204-216, Beaver, 193-214, and Seton LaSalle, 201-232.

Milanovich has been supported in 2026 by freshman Alankriti Bakshi, juniors Charlotte Andrews and Ella Titler, sophomore Angelina Rippole and senior Bridget Hulick.

Bakshi and Andrews, like Andrews, have been regularly carding rounds in the 40s.

“Emily Milanovich is in our No. 1 starting position,” coach Kelly Beatty said. “Alankriti Bakski is in our No. 2 position. Both started off with great scores in our recent matches. And the whole team is dedicated and playing consistent.”

Beatty has coached the Panthers since 2024, leading Sewickley back into WPIAL play after an absence from the league of more than five years.

Milanovich, Andrews and Hulick were returning starters at the start of this season.

Milanovich was the lone girl on the boys golf team at Sewickley in 2023.

In more recent golf action, Sewickley Academy’s boys team defeated Eden Christian Academy, 205-218, on Sept. 15 at Fort Cherry Golf Club in McDonald.

Will Bojalad, Charlie Scally and Austin Fritz paved the way to the Panthers’ victory with scores of 37, 38 and 39. All three are juniors and returning starters.

They were complemented against Eden by freshman Cavan Walden and juniors Caden Weinreich and Jack Christ.

Bojalad also is a top tennis player at Sewickley; Scally and Fritz are team leaders on the baseball squad. Walden is a hockey protege.

The Quaker Valley girls soccer team surrendered just four goals in its first seven games in 2026 and recorded four shutouts in the process.

The Quakers’ two latest clean sheets came were delivered by junior goalkeeper Ava Hajok on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14 against Mt. Pleasant, 2-0, in a nonsection game and Riverside, 4-0, in a Section 3-2A contest.

Senior Annabel Miko, off a free kick, and sophomore Ella Plachecki, from a corner kick assisted by junior Lila Carver, netted the two goals versus Mt. Pleasant.

Miko clicked for a goal and two assists against Riverside while Baker, Plachecki and senior Rowan Wallace tacked on a goal apiece. Catherine Henry, a freshman, also was credited with an assist.

“I normally play attacking midfield, but I’ve been playing more in the back and defending,” said Miko, a fourth-year starter. ”I’ve been playing in a more defensive role recently but sometimes move around depending on what our team needs.”

The 5-foot-7 Miko has a 4.13 GPA and plans to continue her career at Division I Delaware. She is the team captain this year after sharing the role last season.

“I lead by example. I always give my best. And I want to always be there for my teammates,” Miko said. “I may be the only player with a captain’s band, but our other six seniors help to lead the team also.

“It feels a little different because I’m a senior and now the oldest on the team when last year, I was only a junior. I worked hard to earn this position.”

Miko, who lives in Sewickley, has been competing in club soccer for the Beadling 2008 Girls Academy since she was in second grade.

“I’ve had many people influence me,” she said. “My cousin Sutton and I grew up playing together. He plays soccer at Franklin and Marshall, which is only an hour away from the University of Delaware.

“Many of my coaches have always pushed and supported me also.”

QV improved to 5-1-1 overall and 1-1 in section play with its recent wins against Mt. Pleasant and Riverside.

Sewickley Academy’s girls soccer team scored in double digits in back-to-back games Sept. 9 and Sept. 14 to kick off its Section 1-A schedule.

The Panthers overpowered Mohawk, 10-1, and ran past Freedom, 10-3, to go to 4-0 overall. They also defeated Riverside, 3-0, and Kiski School, 5-1, in two earlier nonsection tests.

Emma Eannarino and Claire Karsman proved to be the offensive catalysts for Sewickley in both games

Eannarino accounted for seven goals with three against Mohawk and four versus Freedom. Karsman netted a hat trick against both opponents.

Seton LaSalle blanked Aliquippa, 28-0, in Week 3 of the high school football season.

It marked the first time the defending WPIAL Class 4A champion Quips had failed to score since losing 2-0 to Quaker Valley in the memorable (for the Quakers) 2017 WPIAL final, a stretch of 105 games.

And the last time Aliquippa was shut out in the regular season was during a 36-0 loss to Beaver on Sept. 30, 2005, a run of 185 games.