Penn-Trafford rallies with 2 late goals to tie rival Norwin

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 21, 2017 | 10:18 PM

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Tangled in one of their typical barbed-wire rivalry games, Norwin and Penn-Trafford stretched their latest boys soccer showdown into overtime Thursday night.

As always, it was intense. It was physical. Players left with ringing ears.

But nobody won.

The teams played to a 3-3 tie in their first Section 4-AAAA meeting of the season, just the fourth draw in their longtime rivalry since 2004 and first in three years.

Third-ranked Penn-Trafford (5-1-2, 3-1-2) overcame a 3-1 deficit to force extra time at Warrior Stadium.

“We dug ourselves a hole early, but this shows the character of our guys to come back the way they did,” Penn-Trafford coach Rick Nese said. “We were down two goals with less than 15 minutes remaining, and we were still competing and creating opportunities.”

Noah Schlessinger's goal in the 79th minute for the Warriors tied it, 3-3.

“You know it's always going to be a hard, physical game,” Schlessinger said. “It's more about heart than the physical play though. You have to have the spirit to come back.”

In overtime, both teams had legit chances. Austin Kreutzberger's shot clanked off the left post for Penn-Trafford, and Carter Breen's direct kick sailed wide for Norwin (6-1-2, 5-0-1).

Breen was impressive leading the Knights, scoring two first-half goals.

Kreutzberger tried again in close but Norwin keeper Kyle Krotec, like he had all night, made a stellar save.

In the second overtime, Alex Roman nearly ended it with a shot inside the 10-yard line, but the shot went high. Breen drove to within a couple feet of the goal on the other end, but momentum carried the ball away.

“This is what happens with P-T and Norwin,” Norwin coach Scott Schuchert said. “You get the back and forth and you know you're never safe with the lead. Our demeanor is positive even after the game.”

Schuchert said, even with the lead, he wanted his team to keep shooting rather than sitting back on defense.

“You have to keep attacking with P-T,” he said. “This was a fun game to be a part of.”

The Knights have played well despite the loss of senior Anthony Harding, a Penn State recruit, who went down with a season-ending injury early in the season.

“Anthony's demeanor is contagious,” Schuchert said. “Everyone chips in and plays above their level because of him. We have had so many guys step up.”

Norwin was down two starters Thursday but still kept the Warriors from posting their third straight shutout.

Norwin has won 14 of the past 21 meetings against the Warriors and is 17-7-5 against the P-T since 2003.

The longtime rivals have finished 1-2 in section 13 times since 1997. Penn-Trafford has 11 section titles and Norwin has nine (they split three times).

Penn-Trafford struck first just five minutes in as Tyler Pisarek tapped in a shot in close after a scramble with several defenders.

Krotec ventured out but was late recovering, so Pisarek awarely took advantage.

Breen, who had a goal waved off early, showed his dribbling skills on a pair of first-half goals. His score in the 17th minute that ended with a resounding flip over a closing defender, tied it 1-1.

“(Breen) gave us a lot of problems with his speed,” Nese said.

He finessed his way ahead of the pack in the 29th minute and fired past Warriors goalkeeper Logan Kreutzberger to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

At 16:44 of the second half, Luca Snyder came set and fired from 20 yards to give the Knights a 3-1 advantage.

Krotec had just made a point-blank save on a blast by Roman on a breakaway.

The Warriors made it a one-goal game when Nick Tarabrella connected in the 67th minute.

Tarabrella and Breen are kickers for their respective football teams.

Roman gave a stellar effort on a shot, diving forward and falling on his stomach in the 69th minute.

But the Warriors kept pressuring the Knights and kept shooting, despite the play and sticky gloves of Krotec. Schlessinger dribbled down the right hash and his bleeder got past Krotec to tie it 3-3.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Norwin, Penn-Trafford