Clutch goal, tight defense send Norwin boys to 1st state playoff win in 34 years
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Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 10:12 PM
Norwin’s Carson Zadylak celebrates with Owen Christopher after defeating Warwick, 1-0, in their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Alex Brown battles Warwick’s AJ Schwartz for possession during their PIAA Class 4A first-round playoff game Tuesday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher battles Warwick’s Eli Yerger for a header during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Ian Natale battles Warwick’s Johnny Kellogg for possession during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes a leaping save against Warwick during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Daniel Maddock battles for possession against Warwick during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Carson Zadylak celebrates with Ian Natale and Dylan Moyer after defeating Warwick, 1-0, in their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher works past Warwick’s Eli Yerger during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Daniel Maddock controls the ball against Warwick during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes a save under Warwick’s Aiden Troop during their PIAA Class 4A first round state playoff game on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at Norwin.
One heightened moment in an otherwise twitchy soccer game gave a Norwin senior the thrill of his prep career and sent the better part of 1,200 screaming fans into a fever pitch.
Forward Carson Zadylak finished a prime build-up for a first-half goal before WPIAL champion Norwin turned to its defense to deliver the team’s first state playoff win in 34 years, a 1-0 decision over Warwick on Tuesday night at packed Norwin Knights Stadium.
The first-round PIAA win — the Knights’ first since 1989 in their first-ever home state playoff game — moves Norwin (16-5-1) into the Class 4A quarterfinals on Saturday against Abington (21-3) at a time and site to be announced.
Abington blanked Manheim Township, 2-0.
Warwick, the fourth-place team from District 3, finished the season 21-2-1. The Warriors received three yellow cards and a red.
Zadylak had six goals coming into the state playoffs. None rivaled the seventh, which came in the 22nd minute.
The goal was like a cursive signature, neat and flowing, with Zadylak dotting the I.
Zadylak saw more grit than form to the delivery.
“Owen (Christopher) told me I get grinder goals,” Zadylak said. “That’s my M.O. I don’t have that ripper like some other guys have. I will take the grinder goals.”
Junior George Bunovich took the ball wide and crossed over the middle to junior Daniel Maddock, who calmly set up Zadylak for a header in front for a 1-0 lead.
It was his first postseason goal for Norwin, which hadn’t been to the PIAA playoffs since 2018.
“To see all these fans come out and support us … there is more of a football culture in high school sports,” Zadylak said. “But they all came out to watch us win the WPIAL and they showed up for our first home (state) playoff game.”
Norwin coach Scott Schuchert, back after a two-game suspension, knew Zadylak could finish given the chance.
“I’m not surprised at all to see him score,” Schuchert said. “He’s a dog.”
Bunovich assisted Maddock’s goal in the eighth-seeded Knights’ WPIAL championship win over North Allegheny on Saturday.
He scored the deciding goal, and Maddock also found the back of the net, in a 5-3 shootout that gave the Knights their first WPIAL title.
In the WPIAL quarterfinals when Norwin upset No. 1 seed Seneca Valley, Schuchert received two yellow cards and had to sit out two games, including the WPIAL final.
This time, it was Warwick who had the officials dealing.
Warwick had an unexpectedly high-strung second half as it tried to find the equalizer. The Warriors were nailed with a red card and a yellow card only seconds apart.
Senior forward Caden Lausch was red-carded for something he said, then head coach Matt Wagner received a yellow for questioning the call.
“(Lausch) said something to himself and the ref carded him,” Wagner said. “It wasn’t said to the ref, but there was no warning or anything. He chose the emotional route, not the discussion route. That’s the second time we had that ref. We had him last year at Pine-Richland, too. It should have been a yellow.
“Norwin played well. We didn’t finish our chances. Poor marking created their goal. They were wide open on the six, and that is on us.”
Said Zadylak: “We’ve been on the other end of (cards). It was nice to see things go our way this time.”
Since Lausch had just been substituted out, and the card occurred on the sideline, the Warriors did not have to play a man down.
A Warwick assistant coach received a yellow card with just under 13 minutes to play.
The momentum seemed to stay with Norwin, which fired nine shots at Warwick senior keeper Ethan Beck, who matched Norwin senior Anthony Scalise with five saves.
The Knights’ back line limited chances in the final third, protecting the one-goal lead, and Norwin hung on.
“Our plan was to start fast and finish strong,” Schuchert said. “We didn’t add (another goal), but we defended well.
“It was such a cool sight to see all the people up there. That’s the most I have ever seen in this stadium. I took a mental picture of it. It was amazing to see.”
Scalise, who missed five games late in the regular season, was shaken up around the 15-minute mark of the second half but got up smiling and stayed in the game, despite backup Ryan Dooen warming up on the sideline.
Junior Eli Yerger collided with Scalise late in the first half, resulting in another yellow card.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Norwin
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