Norwin boys soccer team gets to work in defense of WPIAL championship

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | 3:55 PM

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Veteran boys soccer coach Scott Schuchert had a message for his Norwin players when they lined up to run sprints during a conditioning workout this week at the Turner Valley Soccer Complex.

“Winning isn’t fun.”

Say what, coach?

At that moment, he could have replaced “winning” with “running” and it would have made more sense to the Knights. But Schuchert was trying to drive home a point.

Last season, winning was fun, euphoric even, as Norwin won its first WPIAL championship.

But the grind that accompanies that level of success isn’t nearly as pleasurable. And you can’t have one without the other.

Schuchert wanted to remind the Knights as they began their preseason training that a repeat will not come easy.

“The map is out, the course is set,” he said. “The kids see what worked for us. But we’re going to have to work for it.”

Norwin, which spent last weekend at a team camp at Mercyhurst University, is back to work and ready to begin defense of its title.

Senior Daniel Maddock agreed starting a new season as WPIAL champions had a different feel for the Knights, who went 17-6-1 and reached the PIAA Class 4A semifinals.

Schuchert also mentioned there would be naysayers who would label the Knights’ title run a “fluke.”

They were, after all, a No. 8 seed and won half of their playoff games on penalty kicks. The title-game thriller that lasted deep into the night at Highmark Stadium still resonates with fans.

“I feel like we have more confidence,” Maddock said. “We want to go farther than we did last year. The mentality is to be even better. We have a lot of leaders on this team. And we can lead in different ways. For some of us, it’s through fitness. Others is more verbally.”

Schuchert said more players signed up – more than 60 of them, counting freshmen – which is another reflection of what winning can do.

The turnout is the largest Schuchert has seen in his 12 years as head coach.

“Success brings success,” he said. “Last year, heading into the season, we doubled up on the amount of hours in the weight room – all phases. That is what we need to do again. The thing about Norwin soccer is that there are no seasons off. Our seniors want to create their own legacy. They are playing with a chip on their shoulder.

“Everyone is out to get us now.”

Maddock will be a key player, but Norwin also will haves back-line strength and experience with Dylan Moyer and George Bunovich back, and a talented midfielder in sophomore Chase Molinaro.

Replacing standouts Owen Christopher, the TribLive Westmoreland player of the year, and goalkeeper Anthony Scalise, are priorities.

“There is pressure to do it again,” Maddock said. “We have the talent to do it again.”

Another player to watch is junior Tristan Josephic, who was an MLS Next player for the past two years.

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

Tags: Norwin