With deep roster, Norwin girls soccer sets sights on playoff return

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 31, 2024 | 11:01 AM

If Norwin gets back to the WPIAL girls soccer playoffs after a two-year hiatus, it will be a group effort.

New coach Ashley DeVito said under no circumstance should any of her girls should play a full, 80-minute game.

“We have so much depth and talent,” she said. “I intend to go deep into my roster in every game. I believe that our ability to keep our players fresh is going to be a great asset for us. The rotation is going to allow us to stay healthy and strong all season long.”

DeVito, who spent seven seasons coaching the Penn Hills girls, has a lineup that will be led by seniors and juniors.

“Their experience and strength will be heavily relied upon,” the coach said.

Key back-line players for the Knights will be seniors Jackie Weber and Lilah North, along with juniors Alexa Kobus and Cameryn Reed.

The goalkeeper will be junior Rebecca Kostrobala.

Seniors Delanna Colarusso and Jordan Lechner also are defenders.

The offense should benefit from the return of Julia Bursick, who did not play high school soccer last season. The senior midfielder is a Duquesne commit.

Senior Carmella Simco and juniors Elin Bash, Nicole Bown and Ava Acalotto are other midfielders.

Forwards include seniors Lindsay Reese and Cady Pensenstadler and juniors Bella Buscemi, Gigi Fuchel and Libby Link.

DeVito said she wants her team’s style to make opponents “uncomfortable.”

“My goal is to play with pace and really just use that depth that we have to create a workrate that is second to none,” she said. “I want us to possess the ball, use the midfield, be organized building out of the back … but I also want us to outwork every team that we play, compete for every 50-50 ball and be absolutely tenacious in the final third.”

Norwin has some promising freshmen who have impressed DeVito in preseason training. They include Neeve Graham, Tatum Casper and Neilah Schade.

“On a team with so much talent and experience in the junior and senior class, it’s awesome to see young girls come in and compete at the highest level,” DeVito said.

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

Tags: Norwin