Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: Scrappy Norwin still in title hunt

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Don’t count Norwin out of the Section 1-4A boys soccer title race just yet.

The Knights, who had dropped back-to-back one-goal games, rebounded with two straight section wins, the second one a dandy against a team it previously tied.

Yes, the Knights have learned how to win close games.

Tyler Schultheis fired in a goal in overtime off an assist from Ryan Schoemer as Norwin edged Central Catholic, 1-0, on Monday at Norwin Knights Stadium.

The Knights (6-5-2, 5-1-1) trail section-leading and No. 5-ranked Plum (10-2-1, 5-0-1) by just one game with three section games left.

Heading into the game, Norwin dropped a 1-0 loss to Plum in overtime before falling to Fox Chapel, a nonsection opponent, 2-1 in overtime.

What did the win tell coach Scott Schuchert about his team?

“Nothing I didn’t already know,” Schuchert said. “But make no mistake about it, beating a very good team in dramatic fashion can go a long way for a young team.”

Norwin plays at Plum again on Oct. 9.

Playoff teams

The WPIAL playoffs are just around the corner and teams are beginning to secure berths into the postseason.

County qualifiers include Norwin in 4A, Franklin Regional, Latrobe and Belle Vernon in 3A and Mt. Pleasant in 2A.

Be like Mike

Franklin Regional was looking to rebound from a section loss that bumped it from the Trib HSSN rankings.

The Panthers (11-2, 5-2) moved into the No. 5 spot in Class 3A for the second time this season but dropped a 1-0 decision to Penn-Trafford. The defeat ended a four-game winning streak.

They returned to form, though, with impressive wins over Latrobe (4-1) and Class 4A No. 5 Plum (2-0) and returned to the No. 5 spot.

Sophomore forward Michael Hillebrand returned from an ankle injury he sustained Sept. 11 and scored two goals against Latrobe, then had a goal and an assist in the Plum upset.

The Panthers have overcome a storm of injuries to contend for the Section 3-3A title.

“We were able to finish our chances and defend really well,” Panthers coach Nick White said. “Before (Hillebrand came back) we were still finding our way as a team and finding the right spots for everyone.”

Finding a way

Penn-Trafford hasn’t fared well at Franklin Regional in recent years, but the Warriors (7-5, 4-3) expected to give the Panthers a better game last week.

It can’t get much better than a win.

Cooper Geyer scored a goal early in the second half as the Warriors won, 1-0.

Another 1-0 win over Belle Vernon followed, with Yuriy Bidochko again connecting with Geyer for a late goal.

Penn-Trafford is waiting for its offense to take off, but its defense was on point against Franklin Regional – and in several other games. The Warriors have five shutouts. They are nearing a playoff spot in Class 3A.

“We’re starting to get it going in the second half (of section play),” coach Ryan Hankey said. “When I was at Penn Hills, we had a year when we went 2-7 (in the first round of section play) and then 7-2 and made the playoffs. We’re keeping the ball when we need to, and then try to be dangerous (on the attack).”

Six of the Warriors’ games have been decided by one goal.

New rivalry?

Franklin Regional coach Nick White said after his team’s loss to Penn-Trafford last week that there might be a new rivalry forming in the area.

Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford split their Section 3-3A series, with the Panthers winning 3-2 earlier in the season.

“With Norwin and Plum both in 4A, I really think you are witnessing the birth of a big-time rivalry,” White said.

Norwin and Plum are traditional rivals of Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional, respectively.

Recent history in the series favors Franklin Regional. The Panthers had won five straight against the Warriors before last week’s loss.

The WPIAL will start a new two-year alignment cycle next year, so it remains to be seen if the teams will remain in the same class or section.

Where were we?

Yough will host Charleroi on Tuesday under odd circumstances. The teams will play the final 4 minutes, 47 seconds of their first Section 4-2A game, which was suspended because of fan behavior Sept. 11 at Charleroi.

The game will resume at 5:30 p.m. and be followed by the junior varsity game between the schools.

Then, at 7:30, the varsity teams will play their second section matchup.

For the resumption of the first game, no spectators will be permitted, and the concession stand will be closed.

The teams will be on opposite sidelines. Fans will be allowed for the other two games.

Something else to look for: Yough coach Ron Dushack will sing the national anthem.

Dushack is a regular at local open-mic nights.

Top games

Local games to keep an eye on Thursday include Belle Vernon at Franklin Regional and West Mifflin at Penn-Trafford in Section 3-3A, Deer Lakes at Burrell in Section 1-2A, Derry at Yough and Mt. Pleasant at Greensburg Salem in Section 4-2A, Greensburg Central Catholic at Chartiers-Houston in Section 3-A and St. Joseph at Jeannette in Section 4-A.

On Saturday, Penn-Trafford plays at Plum in a nonsection game.

Dragon ball

Fans might be wondering why Section 3-3A teams are all playing Allderdice twice this season.

The City League program was placed in a WPIAL section last year but later learned it was not eligible for the WPIAL playoffs under state rules.

With the two-year cycle scheduling already done, the Dragons kept “section” games against Franklin Regional, Belle Vernon, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, West Mifflin and Uniontown.

Allderdice, considered to have an “associate membership” in the WPIAL, had to qualify for the PIAA playoffs through City League (District 8) competition.

The PIAA no longer recognizes such cross-district memberships.

Corner kicks

Hempfield’s Braden Crowe scored both goals in the Spartans’ 2-0 win over Penn Hills. The unique thing: Both came on penalty kicks. … Latrobe is the only team to sweep Belle Vernon in Section 3-3A play, both games ending with a score of 3-0. … South Allegheny and Ligonier Valley combined for one of the highest scoring games in the county this season. South Allegheny won, 6-4.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Yough