Main Line roundup: Lower Merion football squad rolls to victory

The Lower Merion High School football team improved to 2-1 with a 47-6 win against Harriton Sept. 11.
“Our offensive and defensive lines really controlled the line of scrimmage, and set the tone; they gave us coaches the freedom to open up our playbook,” said Lower Merion football head coach Joe Augustine.
Led by junior left tackle Xavier Archawski, who had 15 pancake blocks, Lower Merion rushed for 140 yards against the Rams.
“Xavier took over as a dominant force,” said Augustine.
LM senior quarterback Jack Lledo completed 10 of 15 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns, all to senior wide receiver Lance Kim.
Kim, who finished the day with 113 receiving yards, scored touchdowns from 47, 36 and 23 yards. Senior wide receiver Andre Gilmore made four receptions for 72 yards.
Senior running back Jay Zheng led the rushing attack with 85 yards and two touchdowns for Lower Merion, who led 28-6 at halftime.
Early in the second half, senior outside linebacker Luke Hendrickson returned an interception for a touchdown to help put the game away.
“I think this was our most complete game defensively this season so far,” said Augustine. “Harriton came out passing, and our cornerbacks did a good job.”
Gilmore, at cornerback, made an interception as well as six tackles in the victory.
Prior to the game, Lower Merion honored its first responders and veterans, including the Lower Merion Fire Department.
“Our students really pitched in for this event,” said Augustine. “We had a student white-out section, and a lot of students turned out. It was great to see.”

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In other Main Line high school sports action (this local roundup is compiled from game summaries sent to badams@mainlinemedianews.com):

Girls’ volleyball
Lower Merion improved to 4-0 with a 3-0 win against Haverford High Sept. 11, posting scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-19. The Aces were led by Emily Greenland who did a little bit of everything with 30 assists, 13 digs, and 3 aces. Caroline Burchette stepped up when the Aces were trailing and provided 6 kills, 3 aces, and 5 digs. Laila Newborn was tough at the net with 12 kills on 15 attempts, while Zoe Brown provided 12 digs and was perfect in serve receive with 17 receptions.
The Aces defeated West Chester Rustin, 3-0, Sept. 10, posting scores of 25-18, 25-14, 25-16. Emily Greenland led the way dishing out 36 assists, 23 service points, 8 digs, and 3 kills. Abiah Lane and Claire Hamilton provided 14 kills apiece while Laila Newborn and Sophie Shin were tough at the net as they both went errorless and chipped in with 13 kills.
Villa Maria Academy defeated Mount St. Joseph’s, 3-1, Sept. 10. Gabby Konrad and Alana Whitwell each had 10 kills for the Hurricanes, and Whitwell had six aces. Skylar Kelly led the team with 16 digs.
Monday, the Hurricanes defeated Merion Mercy, 3-0. Gabby Konrad once again led the team with 7 kills, and Ciara Bradley had 4 kills. Skylar Kelly led the team with 12 digs, followed by Ava Goryl with 7.
Sacred Heart Academy defeated Nazareth 3-0 Sept. 10, posting scores of 25-16, 25-15, 25-9. For the Lions, Lilly Hornickle had 10 kills, 2 blocks, 4 digs and 5 aces, while Annie Corcoran with 3 aces, 3 kills, and 24 assists.
Baldwin School opened its season with a 3-1 loss to Perkiomen School Sept. 10, posting scores of 25-23, 19-25, 22-25 and 22-25. Leading the Polar Bears were Ryan Shelton (8 kills), Joelle Pearlstein (2 aces, 5 kills), Cynthia Huang (5 aces, 15 assists) and Blake Landow (2 aces).
Agnes Irwin lost to Merion Mercy Academy, 3-0, Sept. 10, posting scores of 16-25, 15-25, 19-25. The Owls got strong defense by Ella Zwilling with 28 digs and solid contributions from Avery Source, Abigail Todd and Heidi Reller.
Radnor lost to Ridley, 3-1, posting scores of 14-25, 28-26, 10-25, 20-25. Radnor was led by senior Kendall Slupe with 11 kills, an ace and 4 digs. Sophomore setter Sam Gasink added 18 assists. Junior Bryn Carrigan had 3 kills and 6 aces on the night, and Yleina Sanchez had 11 digs.

Boys’ soccer
Lower Merion defeated Strath Haven, 4-0, in its Central League opener Sept. 10. Simon Rosen scored two goals and Jack Forman and Reid Joseph also scored for the Aces (2-0, 1-0).
Episcopal Academy improved to 3-0-1 with a 2-1 win against Germantown Friends Sept. 11. EA goals were scored by Sam Graham (assisted by Tristan Whitaker) and Eddie Jones (assisted by Sam Graham).
Shipley opened its season with a 4-1 win against Malvern Prep Sept. 9. Shipley scored 2 goals in quick succession in the 14th and 18th minute, by senior Matt Homan (assisted by Aidan McBrearty) and sophomore Noah Laackman (assisted by Justin Curran). In the second half, Laackman assisted Curran’s goal and Shipley went up 3-1. The final goal was scored by Homan, with Vance Yanney assisting . Alexi Amanatidis had 6 saves in net for the Gators.

Girls’ soccer
Lower Merion won its first three games of the season, defeating Wissahickon 1-0, beating Strath Haven 4-1 and shutting out Kennett 3-0. Elly Slensky scored the game’s only goal against Wissahickon on a penalty kick. In the win against Strath Haven, Hannah Blodget scored twice, with singles goals from Annice Booker and Emma Berrabee. Against Kennett, Booker, Slensky and Grace Downey scored goals.
Episcopal Academy defeated Cardinal O’Hara, 6-0, Sept. 10. Ashley Sessa scored four goals for the Churchwomen.
Agnes Irwin defeated Hill School, 5-1, Sept. 8. Lily Fusco scored two goals for the Owls (1-1). Morgan O’Donnell recorded 12 saves for AIS.
Academy of Notre Dame defeated Cardinal O’Hara, 4-0, Sept. 10. The Irish got goals from Abby Reger, Julia Rossi, Grace Connolly and Sarah Kichula. One day earlier, Notre Dame tied Friends’ Central, 2-2, with goals from Rossi and Natalie Maya.
Field hockey
Academy of Notre Dame (2-0) defeated Mount St. Joseph’s, 5-1, Sept. 13. Saylor Milone and Maeve Seeger each scored two goals, while Emma Steel tallied one goal and one assist. Goalies Caroline Doyle and Mia McCloskey combined for six saves.
Sacred Heart Academy defeated Delco Christian, 9-2, Sept. 11. Kathryn Gallagher had a hat trick, and Kyra Santota and Caroline White each scored twice. Goalie Abby Braun recorded 14 saves, center back Meilyn Frank sparkled defensively and Maya D’Angelo dished out 2 assists.
Agnes Irwin defeated Westtown School, 7-0, in its season opener Sept. 10. Blake Stefan had a hat trick for the Owls.
Archbishop Carroll defeated Germantown Academy, 3-1, Sept. 9. Lydia Malone scored twice for the Patriots, and Carroll goalie Reilly McMenamin recorded 10 saves.

Cross country
Radnor had several fine performances at its season-opening meet, the Unionville 2 Mile Bash. Luke Bodden placed second in the sophomore boys race, clocking a strong time of 10:27.8. Seniors Jimmy Kurtz and Aidan Scott medaled in their division. Zoe Margoles paced the girls team with placing 15th in the sophomore girls race clocking 12:54.4.
Girls’ tennis
Academy of Notre Dame won its season opener, 3-2, against Shipley Sept. 10. With the score tied 2-2, Ella Abramson at third singles won her match 6-3, 7-6, battling back from a 503 deficit in the second set. Also victorious for the Irish were Kelly McGlinn and Clare Rivers at first doubles, and Sarah Joslin and Caroline Fullem at second doubles.

Water polo
Malvern Prep defeated Lawrenceville (N.J.), 8-7, Sept. 10, led by sophomore goal keeper Carter Marks (20 saves, 3 steals), Adam Utecht (6 goals), Connel O’Rourke (one goal) and Patrick Buysee (one goal).

Golf
Malvern Prep defeated Holy Ghost Prep, 198-212, Sept. 9 at Waynesborough CC (par 35). Senior Joey Vandergeest posted a 2-over par score of 37 and eighth-grader Davis Conaway shot 38.