Freshman helps Norwin to 2OT playoff win over Mt. Lebanon
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Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 11:02 PM
Norwin’s Leesia Phetsomphou celebrates with Gianna Marts after scoring with 46 seconds remaining in double overtime during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal against Mt. Lebanon on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Leesia Phetsomphou is mobbed by teammates after scoring with 46 seconds remaining in double overtime during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal against Mt. Lebanon on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Leesia Phetsomphou (left) celebrates with Neeve Graham after scoring with 46 seconds remaining in double overtime in their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal against Mt. Lebanon on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin goalkeeper Rebecca Kostrobala makes a save against Mt. Lebanon during overtime in their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Leesia Phetsomphou battles Mt. Lebanon’s Becca Braunsdorf for a header during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal against Mt. Lebanon on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Leesia Phetsomphou scores past Mt. Lebanon’s Viviene Slack during double overtime in their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Leesia Phetsomphou celebrates with Gianna Marts after scoring with 46 seconds remaining in double overtime during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal against Mt. Lebanon on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at Norwin.
Norwin wasn’t about to let Mt. Lebanon end its season again. And it wasn’t interested in settling things in a penalty round, either. Leesia Phetsomphou saw to that.
No, the freshman got her kicks in the waning seconds of double overtime and extended her team’s season.
A WPIAL 4A quarterfinal playoff game destined for penalty kicks came to an abrupt and thrilling conclusion for third-seeded Norwin when Phetsomphou scored with 46 seconds left in the second OT for a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Mt. Lebanon on Thursday night at Norwin Knights Stadium.
“This is very exciting,” Phetsomphou said. “You never know how goals are going to happen. Girls were crying. It was a great moment.”
The Lady Knights (15-3) move into the semifinals for the first time since 2019 and will play No. 2 Seneca Valley (11-3-2) on Monday or Tuesday at a time and site to be announced.
The thrilling quarterfinal was the last girls varsity sports event at Norwin Knights Stadium until 2027 because the venue is set to undergo a major renovation project that will force teams to play on the road next fall.
“It’s a nice way to end it,” Phetsomphou said. “It’s the next step toward a stronger future.”
Mt. Lebanon sophomore goalkeeper Makenna Tappe was tremendous for the Blue Devils (13-6), making 12 saves, a few for the highlight reel. But Phetsomphou’s short-arcing touch was just out of the keeper’s reach and seemed to make a sharp turn, grazing the pipe and bouncing in.
“Any goal counts in the playoffs,” junior Siena Ali said. “Our mentality didn’t change. We wanted to win.”
Last year, Mt. Lebanon upset Norwin, then the No. 5 seed, on penalty kicks (4-3).
Norwin edged the Blue Devils earlier this season on the same field 2-1.
“Mt. Lebanon played a great game and made us extremely uncomfortable,” Norwin coach Ashley DeVito said. “They pressed high on us and pinned us in our end. We love to get the ball to the midfield, but they suffocated us there.
“We found a way. It only takes one.”
Mt. Lebanon had the better of possession in the second half and extra time, but Norwin kept the Blue Devils quiet despite several challenges, including a couple of yellow cards and the loss of senior defenders Alexa Kobus and Cam Reed late in the first overtime (both returned).
“You never want to go to penalty kicks,” Ali said. “You never want that kind of pressure.”
Pressure was avoided with a winning build-up as inconspicuous as it was clutch. The last goal at this version of the “Castle” was a gem for Norwin, which had 15 shots.
Freshman Gianna Marts dribbled out of the left corner and dropped off to Ali. With time dipping under a minute until a shootout, Ali saw Phetsomphou and served the ball toward her.
It hit a defender and came to Phetsomphou, who volleyed a high shot with her left foot past a diving Tappe. The golden goal — her 11th score of the season — crept just inside the far post to send Norwin to the semis.
”We found a way to stay in it, no matter what tonight,” DeVito said. “We never lost hope.”
Senior keeper Rebecca Kostrobala made seven saves for Norwin.
The Lady Knights outshot the Blue Devils in the first half 5-4, but the teams went into the break scoreless.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Mt. lebanon, Norwin
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