Norwin boys get another thrilling penalty-kick win in PIAA quarters

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, November 11, 2023 | 7:49 PM

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CHAMBERSBURG — As the pink sky faded into darkness and one overtime gave way to another, Norwin’s confidence grew.

As time melted off the clock in the second overtime, the Knights began to feel it.

Another shootout was imminent. It was their time to shine. Again.

“We’ve been to PKs before, so we had a lot more confidence,” said Knights junior Daniel Maddock, who had a goal in regulation and made his PK. “When we go to pens, we feel pretty good.”

The Fab 5 lined up again and sent the Knights out a clutch winner.

For the third time in five playoff games, the WPIAL champion Knights won in penalty kicks, pushing past Abington, 2-1 (4-3 PKs), with George Bunovich sending in the winner Saturday night in a PIAA Class 4A boys soccer quarterfinal at Chambersburg’s Trojan Stadium.

Norwin (17-5-1), playing in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1989, is headed to the semifinals for the first time in school history.

It will play Central Bucks South (18-5-2) in the semifinals Tuesday at a time and site to be announced.

Central Bucks South defeated WPIAL runner-up North Allegheny, 2-0, in the game played before Norwin-Abington at Chambersburg.

Norwin edged Seneca Valley in the WPIAL quarterfinals with penalty kicks and did the same against North Allegheny in the WPIAL final.

“Our guys just keep rising to the occasion,” Norwin coach Scott Schuchert said. “They see how good Anthony (Scalise) is. He makes that first save, and they know (the opponent) is shooting at a wall.”

After 110 minutes of regulation and extra time, Norwin and Abington moved to PKs, with Scalise making another key save to boost his teammates’ trust against the Galloping Ghosts (21-4), the District 1 runner-up.

“It’s not that I expect (a shootout), but we expect to win one every time,” Norwin’s Alex Brown said. “We’ve only missed three out of 15 shots (in PKs).”

Said Bunovich, who made the clinching kick for the Knights just like he did in the WPIAL championship: “It’s like second nature now.”

Owen Christopher made the opening PK, then Scalise made a diving stop against Braden Delgado.

After Brown’s shot was saved by Justin Waterfall, Peter Cleary of Abington hit the crossbar.

Maddock followed with a make, and Braeden Brownholtz made his attempt for the Ghosts.

Chase Molinaro converted his chance for the Knights, and Daniel Oliveira followed with a make.

Bunovich was next, and he calmly sent a shot top shelf over Waterfall for the 5-3 win.

“Most keepers hate (PKs),” said Scalise, who made 10 saves. “I love it, personally. Making a save in PKs is the best feeling in the world.”

Said Bunovich: “We have the best keeper in the state. It’s another layer of protection.”

By the time the shootout came around, the regulation goals seemed like ancient history.

Sean Westmoreland opened the scoring off a set piece for the Ghosts in the 35th minute.

Brian O’Neill sent in a free kick from the top-left corner of the penalty area. Jose Rosario Martinez crashed the box and headed the ball off of Christopher.

Westmoreland was there to send in the deflection and make it 1-0.

Norwin tied it four minutes into the second half on its own free kick. Off a restart, Maddock delivered a high, curving ball on frame. With Waterfall looking to his right like the ball was heading wide, it instead landed top corner to tie it 1-1.

“That was the first goal off a free kick all season,” Schuchert said. “It was long overdue. Daniel has been waiting for that. He brings something new every game.”

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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