Westmoreland County boys soccer playoff preview for Nov. 11, 2023

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, November 10, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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PIAA soccer playoffs

Boys

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

Norwin (16-5-1) vs. Abington (21-3)

3 p.m. Saturday, Chambersburg High School, Chambersburg

Winner plays: Winner of Central Bucks South (17-5-2)/North Allegheny (17-2-3) Tuesday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Coaches: Scott Schuchert, Norwin; Randy Garber, Abington

Players to watch: George Bunovich, Norwin; Brandon Murataj, Abington

Throw-ins: Norwin avoided the dreaded WPIAL hangover by holding back visiting Warwick in the first round 1-0. Carson Zadylak scored in the 22nd minute and the defense held tight to preserve the score. … Anthony Scalise, who stood tall in net in the WPIAL final, made five saves in his first PIAA action. He is a Penn State Behrend commit. … Schuchert returned to the sidelines after a two-game suspension (red card violation). … Norwin had not won a state playoff game since 1989. … The Knights won two WPIAL playoff games in penalty kicks, against No. 1 Seneca Valley and No. 2 North Allegheny, which could await in the next round. … Cornerstone midfielder Owen Christopher is an all-state player. … The Knights never have made the PIAA semifinals. In ’89, they beat State College, 1-0, then lost to Neshaminy, 6-0. … The Norwin girls defeated Conestoga Valley, 2-0, in the 2017 state semifinals at Chambersburg to reach the championship game. That was Norwin’s last PIAA title team. … Daniel Maddock has two playoff goals and one score on a penalty kick. … Abington, located about five miles north of Philadelphia and a member of the Suburban One League, put two second-half goals on the board to push past Manheim Township, 2-0, in the first round. … Brian O’Neill and Brandon Murataj found the net, and keeper Justin Waterfall had the clean sheet for the District 1 runners-up. … In the district final, where the Ghosts lost to Conestoga, 3-1, Brady Hartman had the lone goal. … Brandon Escobar is a key backer. … The Ghosts made the state tournament two years ago and lost to La Salle College in the quarterfinals 5-1. … Abington never has won a state title.

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

Tags: Norwin