Four players who likely would have had an impact for Norwin are nonfactors — at least for this season.
Junior Chase Molinaro, sophomore Turner Raibel, and freshmen Christian Wilson and Mateo Yezovich are playing for the MLS Next, a youth developmental league that does not permit players to dual roster with middle or high school teams.
They could return next season, Norwin coach Scott Schuchert said.
Opening weekend
Only a few local teams will be in action on the opening weekend of the season.
Greensburg Salem will play the host Little Indians at 3 p.m. Friday at the Indiana Tournament.
On Saturday, Hempfield will visit Penn-Trafford at 12:30 p.m. while Jeannette goes to Freeport for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
Double duty
Norwin senior forward Tristan Josephic is playing two sports this fall.
Already a key player on the soccer field, Josephic is now kicking for the football team.
Last Saturday, he played in back-to-back scrimmages at Knights Stadium. After kicking several extra points in the football scrimmage against Franklin Regional, he had an assist in a 5-0 soccer win over Kiski Area.
Ranking ‘em
Norwin is the only Westmoreland County team in the TribLive WPIAL preseason rankings. The Knights are No. 4 in Class 4A.
The preseason No. 1 team are Canon-McMillan (4A), Hampton (3A), South Park (2A), and Bentworth (A).