WPIAL champ Owen Christopher of Norwin claims TribLive Westmoreland boys soccer player of year award
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Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 5:00 PM
Owen Christopher helped Norwin to its first WPIAL championship.
Norwin junior soccer player Daniel Maddock
Norwin goalkeeper Anthony Scalise celebrates after making a save during penalty kicks in the WPIAL the Class 4A championship game against North Allegheny on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Highmark Stadium.
Belle Vernon’s Trevor Kovatch celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Mt. Pleasant.
Franklin Regional’s Danny Christafano celebrates his goal against Plum on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Plum High School. Franklin Regional won, 1-0.
Franklin Regional’s Joey Bayne battles Plum’s Brenden Akut for possession during their game on Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Mt. Pleasant’s Luke Rivardo battles Belle Vernon’s Marco Mucci for possession during their game on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Mt. Pleasant.
Mt. Pleasant’s Austin Ulery celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal late in the game against McGuffey on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Mt. Pleasant.
Latrobe’s Roman Agostoni
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jackson Vacanti
Jeannette senior soccer standout Jordan Taylor
Player of the Year
Owen Christopher
Sr., Midfielder, Norwin
Call him the cornerstone, the building block, the pillar.
Whatever the case, Owen Christopher held the Norwin boys soccer team up as the Knights made history.
Norwin’s world was more interesting with Christopher in it. The Knights won their first WPIAL championship with Christopher holding down the midfield, directing traffic and steering fruitful possessions. Norwin (17-6) also reached the PIAA Class 4A semifinals for the first time.
For his efforts, Christopher is the TribLive Westmoreland Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Jeannette’s Jordan Taylor, Trevor Kovatch of Belle Vernon and Anthony Scalise of Norwin also received consideration.
While those gifted players had indelible seasons, they did not bring the all-around game that Christopher did.
Norwin bounced through the playoffs like it was destined to win, taking three games in penalty kicks, including one over WPIAL top seed and playoff antagonist Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed.
Christopher scored in shootout wins against Seneca Valley, North Allegheny in the WPIAL title game and Abington in the PIAA quarterfinals.
He finished with 13 goals and five assists.
And, as coach Scott Schuchert listed among his final stats, “1 WPIAL championship.”
“We (the seniors) had talked about winning a WPIAL championship together for years,” Christopher said. “For it to come true, and in such dramatic fashion, felt like a dream. It’s surreal to me that we were the first to ever do it. We hit some road blocks in the regular season, but we jelled at the right time.”
Christopher was an all-section, All-WPIAL and all-state selection. He also made the WPIAL Class 4A all-star game.
“It would’ve been very easy for us to get complacent after upsetting Seneca Valley, but we worked even harder after that quarterfinal victory because we felt that we were now the team to beat,” Christopher said.
“Going out of the state tournament in the way that we did really stung, but the drama with the uniforms and the ball boys doesn’t take away from the fact that we just didn’t play our best soccer.”
Schuchert said Christopher and Scalise solidified their place among the best players in Norwin history.
“Their dynamic partnership is inseparable,” the coach said. “Off the field, two of the most likable people and amazing young men. On the field, their performance reminded me of gladiators, captivating the crowd with their talent and determination. Together, they achieved numerous victories that resonated with the entire community.”
Christopher wants this benchmark season to have a lasting effect on the team.
“Hopefully, we gave all future Knights something to look up to and look forward to,” Christopher said. “That is by far the most important thing for me.”
First team
Roman Agostoni
Jr., F, Latrobe
Leading goal scorer for the Wildcats, who set a school record with 12 wins and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. … All-WPIAL player finished with 17 goals and 12 assists.
Joey Bayne
Jr., MF, Franklin Regional
Used his speed and control to keep possessions going while providing another scoring weapon for the Panthers. … All-WPIAL selection scored 14 goals and had 10 assists.
Danny Christafano
Jr., F, Franklin Regional
A constant scoring threat on top of the formation, Christafano scored 15 goals and dished 11 assists to the Panthers and earned all-WPIAL Class 3A honors. … Helped 11th-seeded Franklin Regional reach WPIAL semifinals.
Daniel Maddock
Jr., F, Norwin
Led the WPIAL Class 4A champion Knights with 23 goals and added 10 assists. … Had three goals in the playoffs as Norwin reached the state semifinals.
Taylor Kovatch
Jr., F, Belle Vernon
Second-leading goal scorer in the WPIAL with 49. … Was an all-WPIAL selection and the Section 3-2A player of the year. … Has 199 points and 86 goals for his career.
Luke Rivardo
Sr., MF, Mt. Pleasant
An all-WPIAL Class 2A selection, Rivardo has been one of the top goal scorers in the area for much of his career. … Finished with 19 goals and nine assists, while tallying 61 careers goals and 28 assists.
Anthony Scalise
Sr., GK, Norwin
A brick wall during a brilliant playoff surge, Scalise was a vital piece to the Knights’ championship puzzle. … An all-WPIAL selection despite missing five games due to injury, he posted 10 shutouts and won three shootouts in the playoffs.
Jordan Taylor
Sr., F, Jeannette
Led WPIAL with 54 goals and garnered all-WPIAL, all-state and WPIAL 2A Player of the Year accolades. … A three-time all-WPIAL pick. … Finished his career third on the WPIAL’s all-time goals list with 162.
Austin Ulery
Sr., MF, Mt. Pleasant
A dangerous scoring threat from the perimeter with his range, Ulery had 10 goals and three assists for the Vikings, a playoff team. … Named to the All-WPIAL Class 2A list.
Jackson Vacanti
Jr., MF, Greensburg Central Catholic
High-energy player in the Centurions’ attack scored 15 goals and delivered six assists as GCC returned to WPIAL playoffs. … Had highlight-reel goal against Ligonier Valley.
Second team
Warren Agostoni, Fr., MF, Latrobe
Collin Barner, Jr., MF, Yough
Ben Bigi, Jr., F, Latrobe
Dylan Moyer, Jr., D, Norwin
George Bunovich, Jr., D, Norwin
Braden Crowe, So., MF, Hempfield
Austin Emery, Sr., MF, Jeannette
Dom Kaforey, Sr., D, Franklin Regional
Ben Luchs, Jr., MF, Penn-Trafford
Brandon Yeschenko, Jr., MF, Belle Vernon
Mason Yeschenko, Jr., D, Belle Vernon
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, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Yough
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