WPIAL Playoff Run

On October 28, the 8th seed Norwin Knights took on the 1st seed Seneca Valley Raiders in the first round of the WPIAL Playoffs. Seneca Valley has ended multiple Norwin playoff runs before and humbled Norwin at the start of the season with a 5-1 loss. The Knights looked to get revenge if they hoped to move on in the playoffs.

The Knights had to dig in and face the dominate Seneca Valley Raiders. The scoring would open up with Norwin senior Luke Halberg. Going into the half, Norwin would have the lead 1-0.

Only 2 minutes into the second half,  Seneca Valley answered to tie the game 1-1. Norwin would not let this deter them and they kept the attack up with their second half goal coming from senior Alex Brown to take a 2-1 lead. Again the Raiders answered quickly with a goal to tie the game up 2-2.

The game headed to overtime where both teams would fight for the win with everything they had, but both sides would be unfruitful and the game would head to overtime and penalty kicks. Knights capitan Owen Christopher converted his penalty, and so would Alex Brown, George Bunovich, and Chase Molinaro. With two saves from senior goalkeeper Anthony Scalise the Knights would shock the entirety of the WPIAL and even the state by taking down the reigning WPIAL champs.

“To be the best, you have to beat the best!” said Norwin Knights head coach Scotty Schuchert, as quoted in the Tribune Review. The Knights head coach would get a red card in the game and that would force him to miss the next two games for the Knights.

After this improbable victory the Knights were slated against the 5th seed Fox Chapel. The Knights without their head coach and facing the higher seed once again were underdogs who were ready to fight for their spot. The Knights would strike first with a goal from Daniel Maddock, but the Foxes would quickly answer with a goal of their own. Nearing the final seconds of the game Norwin captain Owen Christopher would score sending the Norwin student section into a frenzy. With a 2-1 victory the Knights would press forward with their next challenge against North Allegheny in the WPIAL final at Highmark Field.

”We felt disrespected,” said Rick Zappone.” We made sure to prove everyone wrong.”

On Saturday November 4, the Knights head to Highmark Stadium to hopefully bring back their first ever WPIAL title. In the championship, Norwin faced the 2nd seeded North Allegheny Tigers. The Knights were put on the back heel early by the Tigers who had the pressure on to start the game. Soon this pressure would be too much and the Tigers would score on the Knights putting the score at 1-0. The Knights would go into the half down one goal, where acting head coach Carter Breen fired up the Knights to be ready to battle for the WPIAL title and strike back.

In the second half George Bunovich would send a corner kick in which found the head of Daniel Maddock to equalize putting the score at 1-1. The game headed to a hard fought overtime that would end in neither team scoring, and again the Knights would head to penalty kicks. For the Knights, Chase Molinaro, Owen Christopher, Alex Brown, Daniel Maddock, and George Bunovich would all convert their penalties. Anthony Scalise would save a penalty kick which was all the Knights needed to make history–and win first ever WPIAL Boys Title.

“The amount of resiliency and heart this team has shown throughout the season is the real meaning of what high school sports is, and should be” said Coach Carter Breen. “This season will forever hold a special mental image in my head for years and years to come.”

PIAA Playoff Run

Shortly after this victory the Knights had no time to celebrate and had to get ready for state playoff. The Knights were pitted up against Warwick a team from Lancaster area. The Norwin boys soccer team has never won a state soccer game let alone one at the castle. The Knights would dominate for most of the game being able to hold possession for a majority of the game. In the second half of the game the score was still at 0-0 until Norwin senior Carson Zadylak was able to find the back of the net. With a score of 1-0 the Knights were able to keep Warwick down and made history again with the team’s first ever state playoff win.

“We weren’t winning soccer games, we were defending our family,” said assistant coach Mike Powers. “Trophies and titles come and go, but the bond and love of this group will never be replicated.”

Next up on PIAA playoff run for the Knights was Abington, whoever would win this game would be headed to PIAA semifinals. The game was held at Chambersburg on November 11, which is a long commute for the Knights. Nonetheless, the Norwin fans had a strong presence. Abington would go up early on the Knights making the score 1-0 Abington. The first half would pass by, but early into the second Daniel Maddock scored a screamer into the top left of the oppositions net making the score 1-1. After equalizing the score would stay at 1-1 through the rest of the second half and through overtime, so this game would go to penalties. For the Knights the shooters would be Alex Brown, Owen Christopher, Daniel Maddock, Chase Molinaro, and George Bunovich. Chase, Daniel, George, and Owen would score, and Anthony Scalise would make two saves to finish off Abington sending the Knights to their first state semifinal.

“We edged out difficult competition that stayed stiff all season,” said Anthony Scalise. “ We stayed hungry and gave our best.”

On November 13, the Knights were headed to Chambersburg again to play Central Bucks South in the state semifinals. Central Bucks South would go up early putting the score at 1-0, and that’s how the score would stay for the rest of the game. The Knights did not simply let the other team walk over them, they put up a fight with many close chances of their own, but were unable to convert.

“The team this year was not just a team, we were a family,” said Owen Christopher. “We were doubted upon doubted, but we never doubted ourselves. I don’t think any other team was more deserving of winning a championship than us.”

Despite ending the season on a tough loss this Norwin soccer team has made history. They brought home the first ever soccer WPIAL trophy, won the team’s first state playoff game in 34 years, and made it the farthest of any Norwin boys soccer team before. None of this would have been possible for them, without the coaches that helped them along the journey. To sum up this season team manager Chase Briney said it best, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”