The Norwin girls soccer program has been a standard-bearer in the WPIAL for decades, but the pinnacle for the Knights came during a three-year stretch from 2015-17. During that time, Norwin captured two WPIAL titles and a PIAA crown. One of the most instrumental players in that success was goalkeeper Sam Wexell. She continued to thrive at the college level, garnering numerous accolades at Ohio University. With her playing days behind her, Wexell has since established her professional career, while her wedding is on the horizon. She’s in the spotlight for this installment of the Westmoreland Where Are They Now?

As a freshman at Norwin in 2014, Wexell bided her time as a reserve to start the campaign. As the season progressed, however, she earned her spot as the primary keeper. She helped the Knights achieve a mark of 15-3-1 overall, including 11-0-1 in the section. However, Norwin fell to Plum 1-0 in the opening round of the WPIAL Class AAA bracket.

Despite the earlier-than-expected postseason exit, Wexell and many of her classmates showed the promise that would be fulfilled over the next three campaigns.

“I think I did have a very positive attitude, even going into high school, that we were probably going to be successful,” she recalled.

The following season, the Knights went 12-0-0 in section action. Back in the postseason, they defeated Franklin Regional, Plum, and Seneca Valley to reach the WPIAL Class AAA Championship match.

“I remember feeling much more comfortable than I did my freshman year, especially in finding my voice as a leader on the field,” Wexell stated of the 2015 season. “That confidence kind of built up throughout the whole team. We had quite a few sophomores starting that year, and I think they probably all felt the same way in taking ownership of the team and feeling connected.”

In that title game, the Knights bested Upper St. Clair 3-0 to win the first district crown since 1997, as Wexell registered a shutout.

“My club team practiced every day at Highmark Stadium, so I definitely felt kind of like a home field advantage, even though it was a neutral site,” she noted. “We were all so much more excited than we were nervous.

“As you get older, I think you remember less of the moments of the game itself, and more so just how happy you were with your teammates,” she added.

In the PIAA playoffs, Norwin knocked off Seneca Valley and Downingtown West, but lost in a rematch against USC in the semifinals, finishing with a record of 24-1-0.

In 2016, Norwin achieved the repeat, as the Knights went 21-1-1, including 9-0-1 in the section. In the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs, Norwin defeated Penn Hills, Upper St. Clair, and Fox Chapel Area, setting the stage for a championship showdown against Canon-McMillan. In that clash, Norwin prevailed 3-1.

Although Wexell did not register a clean sheet, she achieved something more memorable – a save on a penalty kick.

“Just doing it on that stage and at that field is just a moment I will remember forever,” she revealed of the PK stop. “That was probably one of the best moments of my entire athletic career.”

In the state postseason, Norwin downed the Foxes again, but fell in the rematch against the Big Macs in the quarterfinals to end the season.

As a senior in 2017, Wexell anchored a team that garnered national recognition. At one point of the season, the Knights were ranked as the top high school team in the United States by TopDrawerSoccer.com

Instead of dreading the pressure that came with it, Wexell and her teammates viewed the ranking as something to embrace.

“I think we loved it really, especially the group of leaders that we had,” Wexell stated. “We felt like we had left unfinished business on the table.

“When you’re ranked at that level, the first thing people are going to say is that you don’t deserve it,” she added. “We loved hearing the negative feedback and using that to push ourselves to show everybody that we were deserving.”

Wexell helped Norwin go 21-2-1, including 8-1-1 in the section, which included a loss and a draw against rival Penn-Trafford. Those matchups between the bordering schools were among the most anticipated in the WPIAL.

“Obviously, the rivalry games are the most exciting for many reasons. You mark that on your calendar as soon as the schedule comes out,” Wexell intimated.

In the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs, the Knights triumphed against Canon-McMillan, Kiski Area, and North Allegheny, but came up short against the Warriors in the title game.

While Norwin was denied a district three-peat, the setback made the Knights hungrier to achieve their ultimate goal – a state crown.

“Although it did sting to lose that game, especially to your rival, we did a pretty good job of just keeping our heads up and looking at the bigger picture,” she detailed. “Us being able to pull back together and peak at the right time later down the road was just incredible.”

To her point, the Knights rebounded in the state playoffs, defeating State College Area, North Allegheny, and Conestoga Valley to reach the PIAA Class 4A Championship. In that clash, Norwin edged Neshaminy 1-0 to claim the second state title in team history.

“It was just a surreal feeling that everything came together exactly how we needed it to,” Wexell said. “Not many people get to play their last game and win.”

Her best soccer memories at Norwin always centered around the chemistry and trust she experienced with her teammates.

“The team unity – it really was such a great environment,” she recalled. “Obviously, it produced success for us on the field, but really when I look back, I just think of being with my best friends and us just loving the process so much. We really were just so dedicated to seeing results every day.”

In addition to the incredible team success, Wexell produced nearly unparalleled individual numbers. During her time in a Knights jersey, she registered a team-record 53 shutouts, and was named a First-Team All-State goalkeeper in her senior campaign.

Like a bevy of her Norwin teammates, Wexell opted to continue her soccer career at the Division I level, as she committed to Ohio University.

“I just felt like I would really be at home there. I loved the coaches right away, and the team made me feel so welcome,” she said of her decision to matriculate to Ohio. “They have a great culture of cultivating people, as well as players, and making sure everybody has their own role on the team.”

Just weeks after joining the program in 2018, however, Wexell suffered a concussion that sidelined her for her freshman campaign.

She made her collegiate debut with the Bobcats in 2019, appearing in four matches, including one start. In those contests, she went 2-0-0 and posted a goals-against average of 1.41 with a save percentage of .500. Collectively, Ohio went 11-9-1, including 5-5-1 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). As a result, the Bobcats qualified for the conference tournament, defeating Western Michigan before falling against Eastern Michigan in the semifinals.

Although her playing time was limited, Wexell gained valuable perspective during her sophomore year.

“I really leaned into how much I loved training. I remember having so much fun practicing, I didn’t even care if I was going to see the field in games as much,” she detailed. “I really only cared that we were winning games, whoever was playing.”

Although COVID caused the 2020 season to be moved to the following spring, Wexell played in five matches, including four starts. In that action, she compiled a mark of 1-4-0 with a GAA of 1.60 and a .667 save percentage. Playing an abbreviated schedule, the Bobcats went 3-7-0, all in conference action.

Back to a traditional fall campaign later that year, Wexell and the Bobcats enjoyed a breakthrough campaign.

Before the season even kicked off, Wexell made a change to her routine that paid dividends.

“Going into the fall season, I started meditating before games, just to calm my nerves,” she said. “I think it was so hugely mental for me. And of course, there were a lot of technical aspects that I focused on.

“We took our team performance to a whole new level,” Wexell continued.

The results on the pitch were evident, as she started all 19 matches, going 11-5-3 with a goals-against average of 0.86 and boasting a save percentage of .770, notching nine shutouts. For her efforts, Wexell was tabbed as a First-Team All-MAC performer in goal.

Ohio went 11-5-3, including 7-1-3 in conference play. Although the season ended with a loss to Kent State in the MAC semifinals, it was another game against the Golden Flashes that provided one of Wexell’s favorite college memories.

Hosting Kent State in the regular-season finale, the Bobcats could clinch home field advantage for the postseason tournament with a victory. Although the team settled for a scoreless draw, Wexell played well in earning the clean sheet.

She also recalls the electric environment for the showdown.

“The energy of the crowd – it’s something you don’t always get in soccer,” she revealed. “But it seemed like the whole community really cared about our success.”

With her career path still undecided and another year of eligibility at her disposal, Wexell opted to return to the field for a fifth campaign in 2022.

“Coming off my senior year and how close we were, there was kind of unfinished business, so I wanted to see what we could accomplish,” Wexell detailed.

She appeared in 13 games, including eight starts, compiling a mark of 4-4-1, a GAA of 1.40, a .750 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts. Ohio went 10-7-2 overall, including 6-4-1 in the conference, and lost to Miami University (of Ohio) in the MAC quarterfinals to conclude Wexell’s career.

Although she graduated that December with a degree in psychology, Wexell remained in Athens, Ohio, while her boyfriend, Braxton, completed his spring baseball season with the Bobcats.

Although Wexell briefly returned home to North Huntingdon, she quickly pivoted to her new career. In June 2023, she took a position in Richmond, Virginia, with Carter Machinery, a dealer for Caterpillar equipment.

Wexell has remained with the company since then, working in procurement and earning a promotion within the past several months.

She and Braxton are engaged to be married in October, and they recently purchased a house together.

“If you go east, you’re at the beach, and if you go west, you’re in the mountains. We really love it here,” she exclaimed.

With her soccer career in the rear-view mirror, Wexell has contemplated getting into coaching at some point. She also has a desire to play again, albeit in a much different capacity than when she last suited up.

“Quite a few of my friends play – it varies from fun, co-ed rec leagues to a pretty high level,” she noted. “I always say I would not play goalie because my body doesn’t need any more diving, but I definitely would love to play again.”

Wexell also spends a lot of time with her English bulldog, Diesel, and she volunteers at the local humane society.

Additionally, despite moving out of state, she has maintained her allegiance to the Pittsburgh sports teams. While her father, Jim, is an accomplished Steelers reporter and author, Wexell’s fiancé has also agreed to adopt the black and gold, despite his roots in Kentucky.

“We made a compromise. He’s now a die hard Steelers fan, and I am, in turn, a UK football fan,” she explained.

Coincidentally, Wexell’s head coach at Ohio University was Aaron Rodgers, who shares a name with the newest Steelers’ quarterback.

While Wexell doesn’t anticipate relocating to Westmoreland County in the foreseeable future, she still maintains some of her ties to the area. Notably, she was inducted into the Norwin Athletic Hall of Fame last year.