No. 8 seed Norwin continues playoff surge, beating Fox Chapel to reach WPIAL finals
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Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | 10:06 PM
Norwin’s Owen Christopher (17) and goalkeeper Anthony Scalise celebrate with the student section after defeating Fox Chapel, 2-1, in their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher celebrates after scoring the go-ahead goal against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring the go-ahead goal during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Fox Chapel on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
The Norwin student section cheers on the Knights during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Fox Chapel on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes save against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher scores the go-ahead goal against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher celebrates after scoring the go-ahead goal against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring the go-ahead goal during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Fox Chapel on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Daniel Maddock celebrates after scoring the Knights’ first goal against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher celebrates with Daniel Maddock after Maddock scored the first goal against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
The Norwin student section cheers on the Knights during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Fox Chapel on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes save on Fox Chapel’s Carson Krushansky during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Fox Chapel’s Sam Littwin battles Norwin’s Rick Zappone for a header during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Fox Chapel’s Michael Shin celebrates after scoring next to Sean Regan during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Norwin on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
The Norwin student section cheers on the Knights during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Fox Chapel on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Fox Chapel’s Pablo Linzoain battles Norwin’s Tanner Schneck for a header during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against Norwin on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Luke Halberg heads the ball against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin’s Owen Christopher celebrates after scoring the go-ahead goal against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Anyone wearing a Halloween mask was not permitted to enter Hampton’s Fridley Field on Tuesday night.
Anyone wearing a Norwin boys soccer jersey didn’t want to leave.
There was plenty of celebrating to be done by the No. 8-seeded Knights after they clipped No. 5 Fox Chapel, 2-1, to continue their sudden surge and advance to the WPIAL Class 4A championship game.
“Best feeling in the world,” said Norwin’s Owen Christopher, who scored the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute of a tight semifinal that was 1-1 for about 46 minutes. “Since (the seniors) were freshmen, we have thought about this.”
Unshakable Norwin (14-5-1), which upset No. 1 Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks, advances to Saturday’s final to face No. 2 North Allegheny (15-1-2) at 5:45 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.
The Knights have not been to the finals since 2018. They also clinched a PIAA playoff spot for the first time since that season.
“It all comes down to who wants it the most,” said Norwin interim head coach Carter Breen, the program’s all-time leading scorer. “The kids worked their butts off and earned this.”
Breen, a 22-year-old who played at Duquesne, filled in for coach Scott Schuchert, who is serving a two-game suspension for receiving two yellow cards in the win over Seneca Valley.
Schuchert confirmed Norwin is awaiting the result of an appeal to the PIAA to see if he can coach in the WPIAL final.
Schuchert watched the semifinal via FaceTime at a Starbucks on Route 8, just down the hill from Hampton.
“I texted (Schuchert) last night,” Christopher said. “I said we’re going to win this for you.”
The coach showed up after the game to show support for his players, giving them props on the team bus.
“I am so happy for everyone,” Schuchert said. “You don’t get respect, you earn it. This team is starting to peak.”
Daniel Maddock also scored for Norwin, which was playing in the semifinals for the first time since 2020 and will play for its first boys soccer title.
Fox Chapel (12-5-2) was trying to reach the title game for the first time since 2015 when it lost to Canon-McMillan.
The Foxes, who lost in the semifinals last year, have not won a WPIAL title in boys soccer since 1995.
“Norwin kept coming at us,” Fox Chapel coach Erik Ingram said. “They constantly doubled the ball and were constantly moving, which took us out of our shape.”
Christopher, who earlier in the day was named to the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State list, tapped in the game-winner as Fox Chapel keeper Connor Scanlon tried to get position.
“We knew coming off that upset (of No. 1 seed Seneca Valley), all the momentum would be with us,” Christopher said. “As soon as Daniel took it, I knew we were going to score or their goalie was going to bobble it.
“Honestly, it was the easiest goal I have ever scored in my life.”
Breen said the team rehearsed a similar setup at practice on Monday.
“He went back post at head level,” Breen said. “That’s exactly what we worked on. Exact placement.”
Norwin opened the scoring with its first shot of the match. Alex Brown, from deep in the final third, touched to a cutting Maddock, who scored in stride in the 21st minute.
The ball was slightly deflected but came right to Maddock.
Like Christopher, Maddock scored with ease.
It was just the 13th goal allowed by the Foxes all season and canceled any hopes they had at a 10th shutout.
“Norwin played with a lot of energy,” Ingram said.
Fox Chapel responded five minutes later, producing the equalizer from a corner kick.
Colin Lazzara sent the ball in far post and it was headed into the box to a waiting Michael Shin for the finish and a 1-1 score.
Anthony Scalise made six saves in goal for Norwin. Fox Chapel fired 11 shots, while the Knights had five.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Fox Chapel, Norwin
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