Westmoreland County girls soccer notebook: Norwin peaking at right time

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin went from wanting to make gradual improvements to taking a giant leap forward.

The girls soccer team is back to being a factor after clinching a WPIAL 4A playoff spot for the first time in three years.

With four wins over a five-game stretch, Norwin climbed into second place in Section 1-4A. One win was a 3-0 shutout of Latrobe.

A 4-1 win over Penn-Trafford suddenly has the Knights a game behind the rival Warriors for first. A Norwin win and P-T loss to close section play will mean a co-section title for both.

First-year coach Ashley DeVito wanted her team to peak at the right time and that is what’s happening.

“We needed to be playing our best soccer in October,” she said. “If we hit our stride at the right time, we could be breaking into the playoffs.

“Our girls are buying into the game plan.”

Norwin moved to 9-7-1 overall and 7-2 in section. The Knights played a pair of strong playoff teams close, falling to Fox Chapel and Plum by 1-0 scores in nonsection play — perhaps an even clearer indication they are ready to compete past section play.

One of Norwin’s key traits is its depth. The team likes to make hordes of substitutions. Against Penn-Trafford, there was an instance in the second half where six girls checked in together.

DeVito’s philosophy is simple: If you’ve got them, sub them.

“That is a luxury I didn’t have (coaching at Penn Hills),” DeVito said. “I remember when I played (at Penn Hills) and we went against teams like Norwin and Penn-Trafford, I always thought, ‘Why are they not subbing more?’ I always thought, if I have the numbers, I am subbing, a lot.

“Run subs down their throats.”

DeVito sent four and five subs into the Latrobe game at a time, reaching 11 players down her bench. She said the Knights have gone “22 or 23” deep.

“I want the pressure to be off the kids,” DeVito said. “Your teammates can come in and lift you up. I want to create a culture here where every girl is prepared when her name is called.”

Norwin went 4-14 last year and did not score a goal in nine games. Two years ago, the team missed the playoffs for the first time in program history.

“I’m not surprised by how we’re playing,” Norwin senior Carmella Simco said. “We have had ups and downs, but I am so proud of what we’re doing.”

Playoffs nearby

The WPIAL will announce playoff matchups Oct. 16.

As usual, Westmoreland County will have strong representation in the postseason.

Local qualifiers so far are Norwin (9-7-1), Penn-Trafford (11-4), Latrobe (6-4-1) and Hempfield (5-11) in Class 4A; Franklin Regional (10-5) and Kiski Area (6-7-1) in 3A; and Belle Vernon (8-8), Burrell (10-3-1), Mt. Pleasant (13-1), Southmoreland (9-6), and Yough (12-5) in 2A.

GCC to miss playoffs?

Greensburg Central Catholic (3-5) is in jeopardy of missing the WPIAL playoffs.

The top four teams in Section 1-A qualify. GCC is in fifth place with four section games left.

When was the last time GCC didn’t make the postseason? It was 1997. That year, the WPIAL only took the top two section finishers to the playoffs.

Since then, GCC won seven WPIAL championships, the last in 2020.

Yurko scores

Latrobe’s Ava Yurko hadn’t played all season but was inserted into the lineup on senior night.

Yurko, a Youngstown State commit who is being cautious in her return from an ACL injury, made most of the opportunity, scoring a goal in an 11-2 win over Armstrong.

Paterline commits

Just like when she helps to create offensive opportunities for Franklin Regional, Abby Paterline was methodical with the college recruiting process.

The soccer standout is going to continue her playing career at Edinboro, an NCAA Division II program that plays in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

A central midfielder, Paterline is often a catalyst in creating or scoring goals for the Panthers.

At the start of the week, she had a 25 goals and 67 points in her career.

Fullman to Seton Hill

Mt. Pleasant junior defender Caitlyn Fullman committed to play at Seton Hill of the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

A three-year starter, Fullman plays for the Riverhounds Academy. She has not missed a game in her prep career.

Her sister, Cassidy Fullman, is a sophomore on the Seton Hill women’s team.

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., Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough