Coaching conundrum can’t slow Norwin’s run to WPIAL boys soccer finals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 | 5:05 PM

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A referee saw Carter Breen jogging across the field during pregame warmups Tuesday night at Hampton and stopped him.

“He asked me if I was one of the players from Norwin,” Breen said. “I laughed. I’m like, ‘No, I’m the coach.’ ”

Still looking the part of a youthful player, Breen had quite the head coaching debut — albeit with an interim tag — as the eighth-seeded Knights squeezed past No. 5 Fox Chapel, 2-1, in the WPIAL Class 4A boys soccer semifinals to reach their first championship game since 2018.

“Congrats, coach,” Norwin athletic director Mike Burrell said as he walked with Breen toward the team bus. “You’re 1-0.”

The momentum from an upset of No. 1 Seneca Valley in the quarters spilled over.

“My emotions are all over the place,” said Breen, who likely will conduct the Knights (14-5-1) again at 5:45 p.m. Saturday when they take on No. 2 North Allegheny (16-1-2) for the title at Highmark Stadium at Station Square in Pittsburgh.

Just 22 years old, Breen has been out of high school for only four years. He is Norwin’s all-time leading goal scorer with 68.

Opponents had nightmares about Breen sprinting wide behind the back line.

When he was a senior, the Trib Westmoreland Player of the Year and speed demon led the Knights to their first WPIAL final since 1989. They lost to Seneca Valley, 5-2, but Breen and the program have a chance at redemption.

The Knights’ first title certainly would do the trick.

“It’s not about me,” said Breen, who went on to play at Duquesne. “It’s all of the coaches: Mike (Powers), Dave (Kozak) and Caitlin (Schuchert). We all play a big part and we all work together.

“I told our guys: It’s not about the past. We have to look to the future. That win last week (over Seneca Valley) gave us so much confidence.”

Breen is filling in for 12th-year coach Scott Schuchert, who was suspended two games after receiving two yellow cards in the 3-2 (4-2 penalty kicks) victory over Seneca Valley.

Norwin appealed the officials’ decision to the PIAA and was awaiting a response. The state overturning the call would be rare.

“Scotty coached me four years, and we’re good friends,” said Breen, who also kicked for the Norwin football team. “I am glad to step in for him.”

Schuchert, who has 148 career wins, was proud to see the Knights break through to the finals again. He rejoined the team at their bus in a parking area at Hampton after a win that saw Owen Christopher score off a Daniel Maddock free kick in the 72nd minute.

Maddock had the other goal.

“Carter steered the ship for us,” Schuchert said. “I loved the energy. I have coached him since he was 7.”

Breen said the team would begin preparations for North Allegheny right away.

North Allegheny defeated the Knights in the season finale 3-1.

“We have a bit more time to rest and prepare,” he said. “We have to have the same mentality Saturday.”

Schuchert’s absence, while potentially disruptive and disappointing to the veteran coach, has been a rallying point for the Knights.

“In a way, it worked in their favor,” Fox Chapel coach Erik Ingram said. “They wanted to play for their coach. (Breen) did a nice job with the game plan. They played with so much energy. Every time we touched the ball, they were right there.”

North Allegheny second-year coach Manny Montero was intrigued to hear about Norwin’s situation.

“You need to have good (assistants),” Montero said. “If the same thing happened to us, would we we in a good spot? I would say, yes. Is it ideal? No, but you have trust in your staff.”

North Allegheny’s assistants include Zach Marzula and Grant Glorioso, both players on the Tigers’ 2016 and ‘17 WPIAL championship teams.

The staff also includes legendary coach John Kowalski, who coached the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Tampa Bay Mutiny, along with the U.S. National Team.

He also led the Robert Morris women’s team.

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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