The Norwin Girls Soccer team went into the 2024 season with some unfamiliar faces on their sideline. Not only are they accompanied by 10 freshmen, the program also welcomed a new head coach in Ashley Devito.
In the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season, the Knights had only scored 11 goals, but this season they already have 29 through the first 10 games. This comes in part from the changes Devito has brought to the program’s culture.
“It is not easy to create a winning culture, but they have absolutely embraced the grind,” Devito said. “They work hard, they celebrate one another, and even when I tell them something that they don’t necessarily want to hear, they accept it without complaining.”
Immediately, Devito was met with positive spirits from a team coming off a less-than-ideal season.
“Coach Ashley has brought a new mindset and positive energy to the team,” said senior captain Julia Bursick. “The whole team is determined to make a playoff run this year, and we have the confidence to know that it is possible.”
Devito wants the Knights to forget last year’s mindset of accepting defeat. Instead, she wants them to focus on playing more as a team and believing in each other, and they are listening.
“We are beating teams, scoring goals, and preventing goals,” said junior goaltender Rebecca Kostrabala. “I think that there are many more games that we can win, and playoff games in our future.”
Going 4-10 in class 4A Section 2 last year, the Knights missed WPIAL playoffs, but this season they have joined Section 1 with Penn-Trafford, Latrobe, Armstrong, Hempfield, and Woodland Hills; dropping a few of the powerhouse South Hills teams.
Currently, the Knights are 5-2 in Section play and 7-6-1 overall. To make the playoffs, they will need to remain in the top four of their section.
“Most of us, especially the seniors, have known each other since we were 5-years old,” said Bursick. “Realizing it is our last season playing together has brought us together as a class, and as a team.”
The Knights have improved dramatically since last season, and they hope to continue this tradition as they march into the second half of the regular season.
“I think we need to be more consistent, but that will come with time and experience,” Devito said. “My biggest focal point for the team moving forward is to play a complete 80 minutes every night in all parts of the field.”