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Lower Merion boys’ soccer junior keeper Will Rosenbaum knew the perfect birthday present would be a win over Central League rival Strath Haven.
With first place in the Central League on the line, Lower Merion’s defense anchored by Rosenbaum stepped everything that came in their direction, as the Aces were able to escape with a 3-0 win, with Francisco Palma providing all of the offense with a hat trick.
“I could not ask for anything more,” said Rosenbaum, who registered six saves. “This was the perfect gift.”
The hard fought win raised Lower Merion’s record to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Central League.
This was not an easy win,” said coach Nico Severini. “Strath Haven is a talented team that is well coached.”
Rosenbaum, a first-year starter, is probably like most goalies that would prefer to start the game with a couple of easy saves. Unfortunately that is not always the case.
On a sun-splashed afternoon at Arnold Field, the Panthers were on the prowl right from the opening whistle. In the first 15 minutes, Rosenbaum got into the flow real quick having to make three point blank saves to help keep the match scoreless.
“That was huge,” said senior midfielder David Baer, who recently returned from a knee injury. “Will came up with big saves early which helped us stay in the contest.”
Nico Severini added, “Will has experience. Jorge (Severini) has been training him well. He is taking a leadership role which is not easy as a junior.”
While the offense has certainly done their part, the defensive side of the ball has been equally impressive making it tough for opponents to get decent scoring chances.
Leading the defensive charge has been the play of center backs Baer, senior Tyler Robinson and junior Gian-Luca Hail. Junior Evan Wolfe and sophomore Quinn Vagnoni have done the job on the right and left sides, respectively while senior Daniel Buckman has performed well on both sides of the pitch.
The team first mentality was huge early in the season when the Aces learned they would be without Baer for the early part of the season. Although he could not play, Baer was there to support his teammates and help guide the players replacing him in the line-up until his return.
“It is great know we have depth,” said Rosenbaum. “I know it was hard for Dave not to be out there but it speaks to the team that we still got results.”
“We have a solid core that is basically playing for each other,” Severini said. “We are fortunate be clicking on many levels, and have the squad on the team first philosophy.”
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