Last season while coaching at Erie McDowell, Danielle Baginski saw firsthand how much of a toll the two-hour plus drive from Norwin to Erie can take on a team.

Her team pulled off a 1-0 upset over Norwin, which had made the 150-mile trip and came out noticeably flat.

Now Baginski can sympathize. She is the new coach at Norwin but also still teaching at McDowell. She makes the four-and-a-half-hour, 300-mile round trip to and from practice and games each day.

The commute is well worth it for Baginski, who inherits one of the top programs in the state with one of the best feeder programs around and 29 total returning players, including a talented senior class.

Behind their new coach, the Knights have started the season 4-1, 2-0 in section play before last night's scheduled match at Latrobe.

"The girls are good," Baginski said. "We have 10 seniors on our team and they are all pretty good. I knew we were getting a solid base of kids. They want to win and they want to play hard."

The commute has not been the only challenge with the coaching transition. Baginski takes over for long-time coach Dana Ferry, who was as controversial as he was successful.

Ferry led Norwin to a 164-39-7 record in his nine years as head coach that included four section titles, but he also had his share of critics among former players and parents.

The Norwin School Board opened the position last February and Baginski was named head coach in mid-March.

"I didn't really know anything about the situation," Baginski said. "There has been bad blood but I just told the players it is a new season. It is a new coaching staff and we are moving forward."

Baginski brings some impressive accolades of her own to Norwin. At McDowell, she posted a 77-14-1 record in four seasons and captured three District 10 championships.

Her entire playing and coaching career has centered around Erie, where she attended high school at Mercyhurst Prep before attending Mercyhurst College. Even with her time in Erie, Baginski is no stranger to the WPIAL.

"When I played basketball and soccer [in high school], we always came down and played the Mt. Lebanons, Upper St. Clairs and all those teams," Baginski said. "Everybody in Erie knows all about the WPIAL."

Entering the offseason, Baginski was somewhat familiar with the team from scouting the Knights last season in preparation for the playoff game.

"I knew a couple of the girls, but as far as starters I didn't know who started where and I didn't want to know who started," Baginski said.

"I am just trying to get to know the girls and figure out who is who and where they fit best in the lineup. We are really trying to get a handle on who fits best in what position. I think that has been the toughest part."

The on-the-field and off-the-field leaders of the team have been the four senior captains, Ariel Shasko, Marisa Czapor, Sam Vasy and Dana DelleFemine. Czapor and Vasy start on defense, Shasko is a center midfielder and DelleFemine is a striker who is headed to play at Pitt next season.

Senior defender Katie Mundy has also started the year strong, she had an impressive goal in a 2-1 win at Franklin Regional.

The transition has been made a little smoother as former Norwin standout and West Virginia University player Ashley Weimer was appointed assistant coach.

"[Weimer] was a big help in the preseason," Baginski said. "We are like the same person, we are always saying the same things."

The Knights play three section matches in four nights next week when they take on Greensburg Salem Monday, Derry Wednesday and Indiana Thursday.