Mt. Lebanon girls upset Norwin on PKs in 1st round of soccer playoffs

Monday, October 21, 2024 | 10:06 PM

Mt. Lebanon didn’t get a golden goal, but it leaned on its golden freshman to survive and advance.

Goalkeeper Makenna Tappe expected to have an impact, but the freshman didn’t imagine this in her first varsity playoff game.

Tappe not only made a key save but also converted her shot attempt during penalty kicks as No. 12 seed Mt. Lebanon upset host and No. 5 Norwin in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer playoffs.

After the teams played to a scoreless stalemate after 80 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, Mt. Lebanon won the shootout, 4-3, on Monday night at Norwin Knights Stadium.

The Blue Devils advance to play at No. 4 North Allegheny (11-5-1) in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Last year, North Allegheny won 2-1 on penalty kicks to eke out a quarterfinal win.

Tappe was awarded the hard hat for her team’s player of the game.

“Makenna is our X-factor,” Blue Devils coach Seth Young said. “She was incredible. To step in an deliver like that, speaks to her chracter and her teammates’ confidence in her.”

In the shootout, Julia Bursick of Norwin scored first, and Tessa Peer tied it. Tatum Casper’s shot was saved my Tappe, and Carmella Simko converted for Norwin before the Lady Knights’ Rebecca Kostrobola made a save on Ava Heidenreich’s attempt.

After Neeva Graham’s shot sailed high for Norwin, Tappe buried hers to make it 3-2.

Delanna Colarusso scored for Norwin, but fifth shooter Lucy Pryor sealed it for the Blue Devils for the 4-3 win.

“I have a lot of trust in my team,” Tappe said. “We’ve been preparing for PKs.”

Tappe finished with five saves.

Earlier this season, Mt. Lebanon beat Norwin, 5-3.

Goals weren’t so easy to come by in the rematch.

Both teams had five shots over 100 minutes of evenly played soccer.

“We have a ton of respect for Mt. Lebanon,” Norwin coach Ashley DeVito said. “They obviously got screwed being the No. 12 seed. They have a lot to play for and prove.

“We took them to the bitter end.”

Young said his team game-planned for Norwin, but had to readjust as the teams traded possessions.

“When you get to the playoffs, anything can happen,” he said. “It can be so much more about desire than what you practice.”

Kostrobala made four saves for Norwin, including back-to-back stops in the second OT.

The Blue Devils broke a four-game losing streak.

Norwin had not been to the playoffs since 2022.

“In the first half, we had playoff jitters,” DeVito said. “We had to build confidence and grow in the game. Most of these girls have never been in a playoff game.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at [email protected].

Tags: Mt. lebanon, Norwin