Carter Breen got an up-close-and-personal look at being a head coach in 2023 when Norwin penalty-kicked its way to its first WPIAL boys soccer championship.
Breen, Norwin’s all-time leading goal scorer with 68, was an assistant coach and stepped in as interim head coach when Scott Schuchert was suspended and couldn’t be at Highmark Stadium for the finals.
Winning a championship in his first go-round in the leadership role was exhilarating, and Breen hopes to do it again as the official head coach of his alma mater.
Breen was hired last week – on his 25th birthday — to replace Schuchert, who resigned after 14 years.
“I always desired to coach from a young age,” said Breen, who spent four years as an assistant to Schuchert. “That is kind of how I wanted the game to stay with me. That opportunity fell in my lap. I was able to step in and look through the eyes of what Scotty saw.”
Schuchert went 177-70-18 and never missed the WPIAL playoffs, collecting double-digit wins in 13 seasons.
Norwin made the PIAA semifinals in ’23 for its deepest postseason run.
Norwin was 11-5-3 last season after falling to Plum in a shootout in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals.
“Scotty has always been a big family guy,” Breen said. “When he decided to step down, we talked about one of us (assistants) keeping the tradition alive. Me, Matt (Klingensmith) or Dave (Kozak). Scotty taught me a lot as a player and coach, tactically and with pride and support.”
Uniquely, Norwin will return 10 starters, a group that Breen is eager to make his own.
“That’s one of the deepest teams we’ve ever had,” he said. “I am going in with open-mindedness from coaching aspects. I am always thinking of some ideas. Scotty leaned on us a lot. He always ran everything through us. That is part of having a good coaching staff.”
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State of the art
Local fans will look on this past weekend with fondess for years to come after two local teams won state championships.
Underline it in your history book.
Penn-Trafford won the Class 2A Pennsylvania Cup in Philadelphia two days after Greensburg Central Catholic won the PIAA 3A girls basketball championship in Hershey.
Believe it or not, the feat has been done before. In 2008, Latrobe won the 2A PA Cup, and the Jeannette boys brought home a PIAA 2A basketball title.
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Net gains
Hempfield is No. 6, Penn-Trafford No. 7 and Latrobe No. 10 in the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A Week 1 boys volleyball rankings.
In Class 2A, Derry is No. 7.
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Soccer rule changes
The National Federation of State High School Associations announced several rule changes for boys and girls soccer, effective this fall.
Among them are updates to carding, penalty kick encroachment, goalkeeper release time and the usage of devices.
A new process for distributing yellow and red cards has a referee holding a card and indicating the player, coach or bench being flagged. Referees will show a second yellow, and then a red, for an ejection. They will direct any ejected players to leave the field.
Also, referees must tell both coaches and the other officials why the card was issued.
Players taking a kickoff must be on their side of the field. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the other team if a player who took the kickoff touches the ball before it is touched by the opponent.
Regarding free kick fouls, “a player shall not charge into or challenge an opposing goalkeeper who is controlling the ball with their hands.”
This does not apply once a keeper leaves the penalty area.
Goalkeepers will have 8 seconds — instead of 6 — to release the ball. A corner kick will be awarded if the keeper holds the ball past 8 seconds.
Rule 12-2-3 is interesting because it involves biting. Yes, as in the sinking of one’s teeth into another player. A player is not permitted to bite or spit at anyone, or a free kick will be awarded.
“Other verbal offenses,” as in foul or derogatory language, will be a foul and also will result in an indirect free kick.
On indirect free kicks, dangerous plays — “actions preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury” — will be addressed.
On penalty kicks, encroachment will be penalized only if “the offense has a clear impact” on the PK.
Lastly, no player is permitted to wear an audio or video device on the field of play.
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Zero interest
Add another local game to the Week Zero football schedule for 2026.
Greensburg Salem will be home to Highlands in its season opener.
Jeannette was one of the few area teams still looking for an opponent to start the season.
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Recruiting
• Ligonier Valley football player Connor Faas will continue his playing career at Saint Vincent. Faas had 96 tackles last year to lead the Rams, 66 solo.
• Jose Balza of Franklin Regional will continue his golf career at Westmoreland County Community College.