Norwin coach Danielle Baginski said she hoped her team would play a "level-headed" playoff game against WPIAL Class AAA top-seeded Moon.
Little did she know how useful those noggins would be.
Dana DelleFemine's header with 14 minutes left to play gave the Knights (16-3-1) a 1-0 quarterfinal victory against the Tigers (17-1-1).
"The kids weren't afraid of Moon, despite their seeding," Baginski said.
The Tigers had surrendered just one goal all season before yesterday.
Peters Township 2, Mt. Lebanon 1: The Indians (17-1-2) avenged last year's WPIAL championship loss against the Blue Devils.
Seneca Valley 2, Southmoreland 0: Keara Lydon's second shutout in as many playoff games gave the Raiders (19-0-1) a quarterfinal win.
Canon-McMillan 2, Penn-Trafford 1 (2 OT): Taylor Schram tied the score with 16 seconds in regulation and won the game in double overtime for the Big Macs (16-5).
South Park 2, Shady Side Academy 1: An early 2-0 deficit sunk the Indians (14-4-1) as the Eagles (17-1-2) advanced.
Bethel Park 2, Peters Township 1 (PK): The Black Hawks (16-3-1) used two goalkeepers -- one in regulation and overtime and another during penalty kicks -- in their quarterfinal win.
Norwin 1, Pine-Richland 0 (PK): The Knights and Rams played to a scoreless tie, but Norwin (15-4-1) advanced, winning 6-5 in penalty kicks.
Mt. Lebanon 1, Shaler 0: Goalkeeper Nate Doctor's seven-save performance gave the Blue Devils (17-1-1) a trip to the semifinals.
Mars 4, Southmoreland 0: The Planets (19-1) scored all four goals in the second half of this quarterfinal victory.
Hampton 1, South Park 0: Stefano Wach's goal with 20 minutes remaining in the game lifted the Talbots (15-3) to a semifinal berth.
Chartiers Valley 4, Beaver 3 (2 OT): Joe Pacella scored a winning penalty kick in double overtime as the Colts (12-5-2) advanced to the semifinals.
Freedom 2, Bishop Canevin 1: Two first-half goals propelled the Bulldogs (15-2-1) to the semifinals.
Mike White's "High School Sports Edition" videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.