Lower Merion Boys Soccer Begins New Era in 2010

The Lower Merion boys' soccer train has been full steam ahead in recent years. The Aces have captured the last three Central League titles, sent dozens of players to prestigious universities and established a reputation for taking down nationally ranked programs under former head coach and current Assistant Athletic Director Jon Fadely. Now, with a new head coach and a cast of new characters, the Aces look to keep that train on the tracks and usher in the new era of Lower Merion soccer with the same dominance that defined the last one.

This fall, Nicholas Severini takes the reins of a team that finished 10-1 in Central League play last season hoping to lock down a record fourth straight league title. Despite being new to the job, the new Aces headman brings an impressive résumé to the Main Line. Severini was the Central League Player of the Year at Haverford High (where his father, Jorge Severini is head coach), played four years of varsity soccer at the University of Pennsylvania and has trained with several clubs overseas, including high-profile Spanish squad Sevilla. Accolades aside, Severini has a difficult task on his hands.

Lower Merion graduated six members of last year's All Main Line team, including team captains Jonny Dolezal and Jack Van Adelsberg. The former was named to the All Southeastern Pennsylvania Team and an ESPN Rise top player, and the latter was the Central League's starting goalkeeper in the Southeastern Pennsylvania All-Star Game. Replacing last year's senior stars will be crucial to winning a fourth consecutive Central League crown, and Severini hopes to have the pieces in place to do so.           

Michael Lemonick figures to be one of these pieces. The senior midfielder from Wynnewood has committed to play for Navy and head coach Dave Brandt next season, whose six national titles are tops among college coaches at any level. Lemonick's tenacity and presence in the midfield make him a perfect fit for the next level, but even more so for the Aces.

"He is very important for our squad," said Severini. "He is a great leader and a huge asset for us on the field."

Senior Emmett McConnell will be charged with maintaining an extensive tradition of spectacular goaltending, stepping between the goalposts for his first season as a starter. The last two Aces goalies left an impressive legacy behind them; Drew Cotler holds the school record for most career shutouts with 34, and Van Adelsberg was a Central League All Star a year ago. McConnell's development will be essential to any potential run at a fourth straight league championship.

Fellow seniors David Rosenfeld, Nate Diehl and Colin Eisenstaedt anchor what Severini hopes to be a staunch defense, while sophomore Matthew Lindheim joins senior striker Sasha Safavi at the top of the Aces attack. Lindheim is one of only two sophomores on the varsity squad, and should provide a spark at the forward position for years to come.   

Although the shadow of Fadely and those three consecutive league titles looms large in Ardmore, Severini insists that this is a new year, one unaccompanied by any added pressure.

"No, I don't feel pressure," Severini said. "I feel a challenge to do well, but we all know every year is different. There are some very good teams in the Central League, and it's really up for grabs for whichever team develops the most over the course of the season."

Severini spent the last few years coaching at Plymouth Whitemarsh, and admits that he is unfamiliar with the playing style the Aces utilized during Fadely's tenure. This season, he hopes to put his stamp on the program, implementing some personal flare and bolstering it with a blast from the past. "We are going to try to keep a lot of the tradition and things that have happened in the past, and then add my own little flavor to it."

Severini and the Lower Merion soccer squad enter the 2010 season with a cast of new characters and a new-look approach, albeit with the same lofty expectations. Situated between their glorious past and a bright future, the new Aces headman thinks focusing on the present will pave the way for a successful campaign.

"We feel pressure to do well and to do the best that we can," he said. "Every year you go and set your team goals and you don't base it on the future or the past. We have a rich history and we want to do well."