Gritty defense carries Norwin soccer to new heights

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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“Castle on locks.”

It has become a familiar catchphrase for the Norwin boys soccer team, particularly the four back-liners who help senior goalkeeper Anthony Scalise guard the vault.

The Castle, of course, is their home stadium. But a strict defense also travels well, as evidenced by the team’s historic postseason run.

The goals are fun. Penalty kicks make the fans swoon. But gritty defense has been a common thread for the WPIAL champion Knights (16-5-1), who will take on District 1 runner-up Abington (21-3) in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at 3 p.m. Saturday at Chambersburg High School.

“It’s something they say about locking down on defense,” Knights coach Scott Schuchert said of the motto. “They keep getting better and better at it. There are times where they make plays 1-v-1, and they defend as a group and cover together.”

Norwin has nine shutouts, the stamp of any sound unit. But two playoff wins went to shootouts after 110 minutes of soccer — upsets of No. 1 seed Seneca Valley (4-2 PKs) in the quarterfinals and No. 2 North Allegheny (5-3 PKs) in the WPIAL championship game — with the backers challenging shots and redirecting passes to keep the belt buckled tight.

“We have to grind it out after we score a goal,” said senior defender Rick Zappone, a Pitt-Greensburg commit. “We know if we get out of position, (Scalise) is there. And Owen (Christopher) is the one that keeps us (sharp) back there.

“I know if I get tired, the defense picks me up, and I get a second wind.”

The Knights blanked No. 5 Fox Chapel, 1-09, in regulation in the district semis.

On Tuesday, the Knights pulled out another 1-0 gem, topping District 3 fourth-place team Warwick for their first PIAA playoff win since 1989.

Again, it was an 80-minute grind to the finish. Norwin again clicked the padlock and swallowed the key.

“They had so many skilled players,” Schuchert said of Warwick. “We were able to hang in there and battle it out.”

Said Zappone: “Sometimes, you have to dog out games.”

The other flat back four guys are junior Dylan Moyer (center back), junior George Bunovich (left back) and junior Tanner Schneck (right back).

Junior Ryan Schiller also is part of the rotation.

“This is probably the most intelligent group (of defenders) I have had,” said Schuchert, who is in his 12th season as coach. “They are all 4.0 students. They can see the game (developing) and make changes on the fly.”

Norwin has allowed 22 goals all season.

“They did a great job of defending with numbers,” Warwick coach Matt Wagner said. “They kick it ahead and hope and pray from there, but it worked for them.”

Schuchert appreciates the hard work from his defense, but he also likes the way the Knights are connecting offensively.

“Our team chemistry and finishing in the final third is starting to show,” Schuchert said. “We’re seeing some perfect teamwork.”

Norwin has not been able to break through in the postseason under Schuchert. He said the defense and offense are clicking in tandem, but the staff also grew stronger.

That’s not a knock on previous staffers. It is simply acknowledgement of sharper soccer acumen.

“For 11 years, we’d get to a certain point, and that was it,” he said. “The missing pieces was my coaching staff. The players are more confident, and we’re more prepared to upset those teams.”

Schuchert isn’t the only one enjoying this playoff ride.

He could not attend the WPIAL championship game because of his two-game suspension (red card violation) but wasn’t completely on, well, lockdown.

Schuchert went to a relative’s house and watched the game with his 102-year-old grandmother, Loretta Schuchert.

“I wanted to be there, but what a special time that was with her,” Scott Schuchert said. “When we won, I gave her a big (tear-filled) hug. She was loving it, too.”

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

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