Lower Merion coach Kevin Ries earns 200th win; Aces now 3-0

Lower Merion girls’ soccer coach Kevin Ries earned his 200th career win as the Aces defeated Harriton, 7-0, Oct. 20.
“I have had a lot of great teams and players over the years that each contributed to those 200 wins,” noted Ries.
“It was nice to see us play well together and create chances for each other. We scored early in the game which helped set the tone. Maya Masotti had her best game of the year. We are picking up momentum and are going to get better as the season goes on.”
Masotti, the Central League girls’ soccer MVP runner-up last fall, scored the game’s first two goals, the first at 5:23 off a throw-in by senior Hannah Shalaby, and the second on a penalty kick after Hannah Blodget was taken down in the box.
Emma Burke tallied the Aces’ third goal at 14:05 with a face/header off a Roberta Moger corner, then Amanda Rossello scored at 20:46 with a chip over the Harriton goalie from a Masotti through ball. Ella Braunfeld made it 5-0 from the upper 90 off a back pass from Blodget.

Thirty-six seconds into the second half, Grace Downey tallied on an impressive laser shot from 25 yards out, and Blodget later finished the scoring with a goal from the corner.
Wednesday, the Aces improved to 3-0 with a 2-1 win against Garnet Valley, getting the game-winner from Masotti. Ely Slensky, Ella Braunfeld and Emma Burke played well in the midfield, and the center backs of Sadie Cohen and Ellie Ward kept GV in check most of the second half.

The Aces opened their season with a 2-1 overtime win against Marple Newtown Oct. 17, as Masotti scored 24 seconds in OT for the game-winner.