The Central League's Conestoga Pioneers completed their undefeated season with a 1-0 win over District 7 champion Upper St. Clair. This victory gives the Pioneers their 2nd "AAA" PIAA State Soccer Championship, with the other one coming in 1988 when they beat LOWER MERION 3-1.
With another high school soccer season is in the books I will be posting only occasionally between now and next Fall, so keep checking in with us as I will be giving details on some very special LM Soccer Alumni events for next season. Also, please visit the new LM Soccer Alumni website at lmsocceralum.org for stats & info from every past year (1924 thru 2011), including team records, individual records, playoff results, all-league selections, coaching records, varsity composites for every year, JV & 9th grade stats, Hall of Fame inductees, and much much more.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
2011 PIAA State Final
District 1 Champion Conestoga kept it's undefeated season alive by defeating fellow District 1 member Council Rock North on PK's after a 1-1 tie at Harriton last night. On Saturday night they will play District 7 Champion Upper St. Clair, a 7-6 PK winner over State College (0-0 regulation), in the 2011 State Final.Speaking of PIAA State Final games, in the 38 years that the State Playoffs have been in existence, Lower Merion has been the only District 1 "AAA" boy's soccer team that has played in 3 State Final games in a 5 year span, '84, '87, & '88. Pictured above are the PIAA State Champion Aces from 1987.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
2011 State Playoff Update
District 1 Champion Conestoga defeated Wilson 2-1 in the 1st round, and last night beat fellow District 1 3rd seed Central Bucks East 1-0 in the quarter-finals. They will face another Distrcit 1 team, 2nd seed Council Rock North, in the eastern semi-finals this Tuesday. North got there with a 3-2 OT win over Emmaus in the 1st round, and a 1-0 victory against Hempfield in the quarter-finals. The last District 1 representative, 4th seed Central Bucks South, played in the western bracket and lost to Central Dauphin 2-1 in the 1st round.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
LM's State Playoff History
Since the PIAA State Playoffs began in 1973, Aces' teams have qualified 7 times. Each year the field consists of 16 teams from across the state, with the stronger soccer districts, like District 1 & District 3, qualifying several teams. Below you'll see the results for all LM's qualifying teams, in the order of how far they advanced.
1985: In the 1st round the Aces faced Bethlehem Freedom, who at the time was ranked #1 in the state. LM scored on a PK and took that lead all the way into the final minute of regulation. With just 6 seconds left Freedom tied it up, and went on to win on PK's.
2007: In the 1st round, coming off a season that already included a Central League Title & District 1 Crown, the Aces lost a heartbreaker to Central Dauphin 2-1.
1986: In the 1st round the Aces faced the same team that beat them the year before on PK's, Bethlehem Freedom. This time LM exacted their revenge, and after a 1-1 deadlock, the Aces were the penalty kick winners. In the quarter-finals LM led Great Valley 1-0 going into the last 6 minutes of regulation, and gave up 2 goals to lose 2-1.
2008: In the 1st round, sporting an 18-1-1 record, the Aces destroyed Parkland 3-0. In the quarter-final LM faced Neshaminy, the team that beat them on PK's in the District 1 semi-final. After the Aces jumped out to a 2-0 lead, Neshaminy tied it up 2-2 to take the game to PK's once again. The result was the same, Neshaminy moved on.
2010: In the 1st round, with a District 1 Title under their belt, the Aces defeated Mechanicburg 2-1. In the quarter-finals they lost to a very good Central Bucks East team 2-0.
1984: Playing in the PIAA State Playoffs for their first time ever, the Aces defeated Conrad Weiser 2-1 in the 1st round. The quarter-finals saw a wild shootout with Millville, with LM prevailing 5-4 in OT. In the semi-finals the Aces played the #1 ranked team in the state, Mount Lebanon, to a 0-0 tie, and then beat them in PK's to advance to the final. There LM lost to District 1 Champion Neshaminy 1-0.
1988: Coming in as the defending State Champions, the Aces beat a feisty Boyertown side 2-1 in OT in the 1st round. In the quarter-finals LM slipped by Abington Heights 2-1. In the semi-finals they faced Great Valley, the team they beat 3-0 in the District 1 final. This game was no different as LM notched another shutout, 2-0, to advance to the State Final. There the Aces lost 3-1 to Conestoga, the team they beat in the District 1 semi-final. This has been the only year in the 38 year history of the PIAA State Playoffs where 2 teams from the same league faced each other in the state final.
1987: Having won 4 Central League Titles in a row, the Aces squeaked by Emmaus 3-2 in the 1st round. In the quarter-finals they beat Central Bucks East 1-0, the same team who beat them on PK's in the District 1 semi-finals. In the semi-finals LM faced their arch-rivals Strath Haven, who were the defending State Champions. After regulation & 4 overtime periods, the game went to penalties. The Aces won on the 6th kick to advance to the State Final. There they faced a powerful Fox Chapel team, and after regulation, it was tied 1-1 once again. In OT LM scored on a PK to win their 1st, and so far their only, PIAA State Championship.
1985: In the 1st round the Aces faced Bethlehem Freedom, who at the time was ranked #1 in the state. LM scored on a PK and took that lead all the way into the final minute of regulation. With just 6 seconds left Freedom tied it up, and went on to win on PK's.
2007: In the 1st round, coming off a season that already included a Central League Title & District 1 Crown, the Aces lost a heartbreaker to Central Dauphin 2-1.
1986: In the 1st round the Aces faced the same team that beat them the year before on PK's, Bethlehem Freedom. This time LM exacted their revenge, and after a 1-1 deadlock, the Aces were the penalty kick winners. In the quarter-finals LM led Great Valley 1-0 going into the last 6 minutes of regulation, and gave up 2 goals to lose 2-1.
2008: In the 1st round, sporting an 18-1-1 record, the Aces destroyed Parkland 3-0. In the quarter-final LM faced Neshaminy, the team that beat them on PK's in the District 1 semi-final. After the Aces jumped out to a 2-0 lead, Neshaminy tied it up 2-2 to take the game to PK's once again. The result was the same, Neshaminy moved on.
2010: In the 1st round, with a District 1 Title under their belt, the Aces defeated Mechanicburg 2-1. In the quarter-finals they lost to a very good Central Bucks East team 2-0.
1984: Playing in the PIAA State Playoffs for their first time ever, the Aces defeated Conrad Weiser 2-1 in the 1st round. The quarter-finals saw a wild shootout with Millville, with LM prevailing 5-4 in OT. In the semi-finals the Aces played the #1 ranked team in the state, Mount Lebanon, to a 0-0 tie, and then beat them in PK's to advance to the final. There LM lost to District 1 Champion Neshaminy 1-0.
1988: Coming in as the defending State Champions, the Aces beat a feisty Boyertown side 2-1 in OT in the 1st round. In the quarter-finals LM slipped by Abington Heights 2-1. In the semi-finals they faced Great Valley, the team they beat 3-0 in the District 1 final. This game was no different as LM notched another shutout, 2-0, to advance to the State Final. There the Aces lost 3-1 to Conestoga, the team they beat in the District 1 semi-final. This has been the only year in the 38 year history of the PIAA State Playoffs where 2 teams from the same league faced each other in the state final.
1987: Having won 4 Central League Titles in a row, the Aces squeaked by Emmaus 3-2 in the 1st round. In the quarter-finals they beat Central Bucks East 1-0, the same team who beat them on PK's in the District 1 semi-finals. In the semi-finals LM faced their arch-rivals Strath Haven, who were the defending State Champions. After regulation & 4 overtime periods, the game went to penalties. The Aces won on the 6th kick to advance to the State Final. There they faced a powerful Fox Chapel team, and after regulation, it was tied 1-1 once again. In OT LM scored on a PK to win their 1st, and so far their only, PIAA State Championship.
Monday, November 7, 2011
'Stoga wins District Title
Conestoga defeated Council Rock North 2-1 on Saturday night to win it's first ever District 1 Soccer Championship, and still remains undefeated going into the PIAA State playoffs.
Even though the Pioneers have never won a District 1 Soccer Title before, they have, ironically enough, won a PIAA State Crown, in 1988. That year Strath Haven won the Central League Title, Lower Merion, pictured here, won the District 1 Title (beating Conestoga 1-0 in the semi-finals), and Conestoga beat Lower Merion 3-1 in the 1st and only PIAA State Championship featuring 2 teams from the same league.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
District Final Set
Last night at Harriton H.S. Conestoga kept their undefeated record alive by beating Central Bucks South 2-1. In the bottom bracket #6 seed Council Rock North knocked off #2 seed Central Bucks East, also by a score of 2-1. The 2 winners will play for the 2011 District 1 Title Saturday night at 7 PM at Harriton H.S., while the 3rd place game will take place at 4:45 PM. All 4 teams will advance to the PIAA State playoffs.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
District 1 Playoffs 2011
The 2011 District "AAA" Playoffs are now down to 4 teams, all of which will go on to the PIAA State Tournament. In one bracket Conestoga defeated Owen J. Roberts 3-0, and will play Central Bucks South, a 3-2 OT winner over Strath Haven. They will play tonight at Harriton H.S. at 5:45 PM.
The other half of the bracket saw Central Bucks East defeating Souderton 3-0, while Council Rock North beat Council Rock South 1-0. Those two teams will also play at Harriton tonight at 8 PM.
Harriton, seeded #2 in the District 1 "AA" bracket, lost 1-0 to Upper Moreland last night.
Below are the results of the District Final game for Lower Merion's 7 District Championship teams. Congratulations to all the players on those title-winning squads.
* All years are for the Fall season, not the graduating year
1954: LM 3-1 over Bethlehem
1958: LM 2-1 over Unionville
1965: LM 1-1 (won on corner kicks) over West Chester
1968: LM 5-1 over Neshaminy
1988: LM 3-0 over Great Valley
2007: LM 2-1 (OT) over Abington
2010: LM 0-0 (won on PK's) over Conestoga
The other half of the bracket saw Central Bucks East defeating Souderton 3-0, while Council Rock North beat Council Rock South 1-0. Those two teams will also play at Harriton tonight at 8 PM.
Harriton, seeded #2 in the District 1 "AA" bracket, lost 1-0 to Upper Moreland last night.
Below are the results of the District Final game for Lower Merion's 7 District Championship teams. Congratulations to all the players on those title-winning squads.
* All years are for the Fall season, not the graduating year
1954: LM 3-1 over Bethlehem
1958: LM 2-1 over Unionville
1965: LM 1-1 (won on corner kicks) over West Chester
1968: LM 5-1 over Neshaminy
1988: LM 3-0 over Great Valley
2007: LM 2-1 (OT) over Abington
2010: LM 0-0 (won on PK's) over Conestoga
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