Defending 4A boys champ Norwin expecting similar draw in WPIAL soccer playoffs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 5:10 PM

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Scott Schuchert expects his team to get a similar to draw to last season’s playoffs when Norwin ran the table as a No. 8 seed and won its first WPIAL championship in boys soccer.

“Hopefully, it’s the same result, too,” Schuchert said.

The WPIAL will announce playoff seedings and matchups Wednesday, and Norwin is one of eight local boys teams in the postseason.

The Knights (11-5-1) are the only area 4A boys postseason qualifier. Other playoff teams are: Latrobe (11-4-1), Franklin Regional (10-3-1), Penn-Trafford (9-5-1) and Belle Vernon (7-8) in 3A; Burrell (7-9), Mt. Pleasant (12-5) and Southmoreland (10-7) in 2A; and Greensburg Central Catholic (5-7-1) in Class A.

Girls qualifiers from Westmoreland county are: Norwin (10-7-1), Latrobe (8-4-1) and Hempfield (5-12) in 4A; Franklin Regional (12-5) and Kiski Area (6-8-1) in 3A; and Belle Vernon (9-9), Burrell (11-4-1), Mt. Pleasant (14-1), Yough (12-6) and Southmoreland (10-7) in 2A.

Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls (4-7) needed a win Tuesday night at Apollo-Ridge to qualify in Class A.

While Norwin could do better than a No. 8 seed, given its second-place finish in Section 1 and quality nonsection schedule, Schuchert thinks the opening matchup might be the same.

“I am guessing we’re going to get Seneca Valley again (in the first round),” Schuchert said. “Deja vu. I bet that is what they do.”

Better-seeded teams will play at home in the first two rounds, unless their venue does not meet WPIAL requirements.

The Latrobe boys are an interesting case because the Wildcats won their section but do not have a history in the postseason, having never won a playoff game.

Reputation can carry meaning with the steering committee. Still, a low seed and a home game would be a nice reward.

“I think we are either the 2, 3 or 4 seed,” Latrobe coach Jake Rice said. “I would say we should be getting a home game, but with the WPIAL, you never know. I think it would also be nice to start the playoffs next week and not Saturday. The extra rest and playing at night — what the players are used to — would be nice.”

The Mt. Pleasant girls have a strong chance to earn the No. 1 seed. The Lady Vikings have allowed six goals all season, and their only loss is to 4A Penn-Trafford in overtime.

Mt. Pleasant was upset by Burrell in the quarterfinals last year but reached the final two years ago.

Coach Rich Garland said he is not one to dissect and analyze the playoff field.

“I try not to think about stuff that I don’t control,” he said. “If I look at it, we have done everything we can do. Our nonsection schedule was stronger than recent years.

“In the past, the members of the committee attended games to help in their evaluation, so I guess they are doing their best to get seedings right.”

Another local section champion is the Penn-Trafford girls, who finished a game ahead of vastly improved Norwin, which returns to the playoffs after a two-year absence.

Penn-Trafford coach Jimmy Mastroianni speculated his team might get a No. 3, 4 or 5 seed.

For the boys, it remains to be seen if the four undefeated teams will get No. 1 seeds, or if the WPIAL will lean on media rankings to help them figure the top spots.

Plum (15-0-3), Moon (16-0), Charleroi (14-0) and Bentworth (14-0) had not lost through Monday.

Peters Township (15-0-1) is the only undefeated girls team.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford