It nearly has become a tradition for the Quaker Valley boys' soccer team to post double digits in victories every season.

But, when it comes to the upcoming playoffs, the Quakers will rely on lessons learned from their losses just as much as their wins. Once again, Quaker Valley scheduled a taxing non-section schedule to prepare itself for the WPIAL playoffs. The Quakers finished the regular season with a 10-7 overall record, 10-2 in Section 5-A, good for second place.

They opened the season with games against Wilson and Fleetwood, soccer powers from eastern Pennsylvania, in the East-West Classic. They also played against Class A powers Sewickley Academy and Seton-LaSalle.

The tough schedule has helped give the young team valuable experience as it looks ahead toward the postseason.

"It helps us tremendously," Quaker Valley coach Vince Burens said. "We schedule those games even in the years like this year, when we know we are going to be younger.

"When you play the best competition in the state, it is very easy to know where the bar is set. There won't be any surprises down the road. We know what excellence looks like, and it is always our task to try to achieve at that level."

Only four starters returned from the Quakers team that finished 14-9 last season. They went 9-1 to capture the section title and reached the WPIAL semifinals before losing to Seton-LaSalle.

Senior midfielder Zach Correa, a three-year starter and captain, has been having one of the best seasons on the team. Casey Courneen, an all-WPIAL performer last season, leads the team in scoring.

Sophomores Sam Bender, a defender, and Nick Felt, a midfielder, have continued to progress this season. Bender and Felt are not the only sophomores on the field. In fact, as many as six sophomores have started at times for the Quakers.

"It's a group that has limited experience at this level," Burens said. "They have been learning and growing as the season has gone on. There were a lot of things that I didn't know about this team since they have such limited experience competing at this level, but I knew I had some skillful guys."

Bender, who started as a freshman, is the only returning starter in the back. He is joined on defense this season by sophomore Kyle Richert, junior Alex Dando and a rotation between Jared Billings and Johnny Falconi.

Junior Henry Wilson only started playing goalkeeper midway through last season, but he has stepped in for the Quakers, posting seven shutouts this year.

"We made it to the final four [in the WPIAL tournament] last year, so we know what it takes to make a run," Burens said. "We just have to take it one game at a time. They want to make their mark. They want to hold up to our alums who come back and are really plugged in with the program."

Quaker Valley has been one of the WPIAL's most successful programs. Under legendary coach Gene Klein, the Quakers reached the WPIAL playoffs 24 times in 25 seasons. They won six WPIAL titles and six state titles. Burens was an assistant under Klein for eight years and is in his third year as head coach.

The Quakers will play Bishop Canevin at 8 p.m. Monday in the first-round of the WPIAL playoffs.

"Even though our [players are] young, they are strong and want to represent the tradition at Quaker Valley and make their mark, too," Burens said.

"It is always a challenge for younger players to understand that, because you are Quaker Valley, every team is going to play their best game against you.

"Just because we are younger, other teams don't change the way they play you because of that. For the young guys, it always takes a handful of games to realize that."