Norwin goalkeeper returns from injury just in time for brilliant playoff run
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Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 11:01 AM
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise celebrates after making a save during a shootout against Seneca Valley in their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Jackson.
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.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes save against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes a save during a shootout against Seneca Valley in their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Jackson.
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise makes save against Fox Chapel during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Hampton.
Eleven games into his senior season, big-gloved Anthony Scalise was batting away shots, deflecting crosses and spoiling corner kicks with regularity.
There weren’t many goalkeepers better than him in the state’s largest classification.
But then came a freak disruption. The Norwin senior tore a groin muscle against rival Penn-Trafford in a nonsection game and had to shut it down for awhile.
Begrudgingly, he went on the shelf.
It was like a train that ran out of track.
“I got hurt in warmups,” Scalise said. “I made a save and there was a pop in my groin.
“They told me I might be able to come back for the playoffs.”
Not only did he come back for the playoffs, but he returned for a monumental quarterfinal matchup with No. 1 seed Seneca Valley, a pressure-packed game that Norwin plucked from the Raiders with more penalty kicks (4-2).
Coach Scott Schuchert called it the biggest win in program history. Seneca Valley was the defending PIAA champion and came in undefeated.
On Saturday night, Scalise will front the cage when No. 8 seed Norwin (14-5-1) faces No. 2 North Allegheny (16-1-2) at 5:45 p.m. in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game at Highmark Stadium.
“It’s my senior year and that was such a big game,” he said of the Seneca Valley upset. “I’m thinking, ‘I don’t want to miss this.’ Coming back gave me confidence.”
Scalise went on to earn All-WPIAL honors despite missing five games, a credit to the Penn State Behrend commit’s reputation.
“The thing with Anthony is that he plays his best against the best competition,” Schuchert said. “Big players show up in big games.
“He’s the best goalkeeper I have coached.”
Junior Ryan Dooen filled in admirably in net and helped the Knights to shutouts against Baldwin and Mt. Lebanon and a 1-1 draw against Upper St. Clair.
North Allegheny beat a Norwin team that was not at full strength, 3-1, just before the playoffs.
“He did very well,” Scalise said of Dooen.
Norwin had a 10-day layoff before its playoff opener in the eight-team bracket, which gave Scalise more time to heal.
“Angie (Snowberger) and our trainers did a great job with me,” Scalise said. “They didn’t let me practice when I wanted to. I was itching to get back. My dad is a chiropractor. He has lasers and machines that helped me a lot.”
Schuchert saw natural talent in Scalise, who followed the bread crumbs left by Andy Yanez, a 2022 grad, who also was strong in net for the Knights.
“Anthony started when he was a sophomore, only it was on the wing,” Schuchert said. “He impressed me so much in the offseason with his hard work. I put him in and he got a couple header goals. He is one of those kids who could play any sport and be good at it.”
Scalise said he was given a No. 40 jersey when he first encountered varsity soccer.
“I had a couple goals,” he said. “The second game I played, I scored.”
Scalise, who only allowed three goals in 10 section games — 13 overall, with seven shutouts — said Norwin had quiet championship potential from the start of the season.
Instead of two teams from the perceived power section (1) meeting for the title, Norwin is making Section 2 proud with a title-game appearance.
“We were given the eighth seed and felt disrespected by it,” Scalise said. “When our freshman (Chase Molinaro) scored the (winning PK against Seneca Valley), that was the best moment I ever had in soccer.”
Scalise made one save in the shootout against the Raiders, but it was huge.
He had six saves in a 2-1 win over Fox Chapel in the semifinals as Norwin advanced to its first WPIAL championship since 2018.
“Our defense stepped up,” he said. “(Fox Chapel) kept coming at us.”
The Knights are seeking their first title.
“We need to be loud and bring energy,” Scalise said. “We have a lot of guys with big mouths off the field, but are quiet on it. We need to be heard.”
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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