Ben Bradway hat trick powers Lower Merion to third straight league win

Ben Bradway scored twice in the first half to stake Lower Merion to a 2-0 lead but a resilient Springfield team fought back and cut the lead to 2-1 before Bradway’s third of the day put the game out of reach en route to a 4-1 win for the Aces.

The win was the fifth in five games for the Aces to start the season and their third straight in Central League play. Springfield lost their second straight game after a 3-0 start.

“That was a very good team,” Lower Merion head coach Nico Severini said after the match. “But we kind of bounced back as we needed to after conceding and the boys played hard.”

Bradway and fellow senior captain Caden Arnold were a handful in the middle of the pitch for the Aces, both in shutting down promising attacks for Springfield and going forward in the attack. Senior Owen Burkett’s long throws and defensive work were also key. He connected on one long throw with Leo Nauhton, who headed it home for the fourth goal of the day. Sophomore midfielder Jude Ibrahim was strong in the attack and dangerous on set pieces.

“Our team motto is team together,” Severini said. “I think that pushes through the ebbs and blows of the game. We really focus on character and trying to bounce back in terms of situations that can be difficult.”

The Aces’ response after conceding a penalty – whistled for a handball on Bradway and converted from the spot by Zarel Suarez – was notable.

“It’s frustrating in a game where you know you’re in control,” Bradway said of conceding the penalty. “But we stick together.”

While Springfield’s goalkeeper Danny Raum was working hard and putting his body on the line to keep them in it on one end of the field, sophomore midfielder Kevin Cora was opening up opportunities with his skill on the ball and Suarez had a bid for an equalizer hit side-netting. Charlie Walters, Suarez and Sam Fiorentino also had some promising connecting plays but a controversial handball call on Ryan Duffy in the box going the other way led to Bradway’s penalty and a 3-1 lead for the Aces.

Bradway called Thursday’s win a bounce back from a tough 2-1 win over Garnet Valley where they felt like they weren’t themselves. His hat trick was a personal milestone.

“This is my first one for varsity,” Bradway said of his hat trick. “Feels good.”

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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