On a day best spent indoors, the fates were as cruel to the Lower Merion High School boys’ varsity soccer team as was the weather. It was windy, rainy, and unseasonably cold as the Conestoga Pioneers scored on an own goal to hand Lower Merion their first loss of the season.
The contest truly was a sort of clash of the titans—with the Aces ranked 2nd in the area and the Pioneers 3rd. The Central League doesn’t get any better than this, which is why it was a shame that the outcome had to be decided on such a fluke.
Talking to Aces coach Nico Severini before the game, one could tell that he was taking the game very seriously. An injury to starting senior defender Joey was a concern, but Conestoga’s talent seemed to be an even bigger one. Severini was right on-target: the Pioneers match up very well against Lower Merion and if this game was any indication, both teams will be hanging around at season’s end.
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IN SHORT
The first half opened with full-tilt action. The Aces seemed to be momentarily caught off guard when just three minutes in, Conestoga striker T-Ben Donnie headed in a strong shot past LMHS junior goalkeeper Conner Yu—off a throw-in—to make it 1-0 Pioneers.
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But the Aces answered a little over two minutes later when junior Kenny Lassiter dribbled the ball deftly around two defenders then crossed it to senior Roberto Bonilla. Bonilla drilled it past ’Stoga keeper Clarke Fox.
The highlight-reel goal tied the game at 1-1. After Donnie went down hard on the Lower Merion side of the field, it seemed to fire up the Pioneers and they started putting some pressure on the Aces defense. However, led by big senior Tyler Niles’ physical play, the Aces held strong.
Bonilla struck another hard shot midway through the half but it just missed the net.
Then disaster struck with 10 minutes left, as a pass went off a Lower Merion player in front of his team’s goal—and turned into a slow roller that wound up in the back of their own net. Yu and the rest of the Aces could only look on in horror. The half ended with the Pioneers up 2-1.
The second half started with the weather turning even harsher while the Pioneer defense was tightening the screws. Conestoga pressed in the Lower Merion zone but the Aces managed to hold on and keep the game from getting out of control, with some good play from junior Matt Lindheim. Lassiter continued his offensive show with a couple of strong moves, once resulting in a too-high shot, the other time thwarted by a sensational Pioneer tackle. But the Aces just could not seem to spring for the equalizer and the half ended with no scoring. Lower Merion took it on the chin, losing for the first time this season and bringing their record to 4-1.
A damp and dejected home crowd filed out from the field and coach Dave Zimmerman’s Conestoga Pioneers remained undefeated at 4-0.
ACES OF THE GAME
Bonilla knows how to put the ball on goal. And Lassiter is for real—keep an eye on him.
THEY SAID IT
“We still have yet to find out what kind of team we are.”—Coach Coach Nico Severini
UP NEXT
The Aces host Central Bucks West at the Lower Merion field on Saturday (Sept. 17th) at 3:00 p.m.
