District One Playoff History

1987 Aces are the only LM boy's soccer team who have won a PIAA State Championship

Since the 2013 District One boy's soccer playoffs are getting ready to start next week, let's look back at when they began, and how they developed.

The District One Boy's Soccer Playoffs began 60 years ago in 1954, when the powers to be decided it would be nice to follow basketball's lead and add a post season to the schedule. It was agreed on that the 2 best teams in the district (determined by record and strength of league) would play a single game to earn the title of District One Champion. The Lower Merion Aces beat Bethlehem Liberty 3-1 in this historic game. Since then LM has won 6 more District One Titles, and finished 2nd an additional 6 times.

The playoff field was then expanded to 4 teams in 1962, and then to 8 in 1965. In 1973 they expanded once again, with each league champion taking part, along with several more teams from the stronger leagues. The match-ups were determined before the season began, i.e. Central League 1st place vs. Suburban One 2nd place, Del-Val 1st place vs. Chesmont 2nd place, etc.

In the early-80's District One created 3 playoff classes, each playing for their own district championship; AAA (large schools), AA (midsize schools), and A (small schools). In the mid-90's a seeding committee was formed, with each league getting representation, and the teams were seeded by record, league standing, and strength of schedule. Now, in the upcoming 2013 AAA District One Playoffs, there are 28 teams vying for the coveted AAA title.

Below is the link to the District 1 Playoff brackets, with dates & other info. The brackets will be blank until this Sunday evening, when all the seeding has been completed. Then all the playoff teams chosen will be entered according to their seed.

http://www.district-one.net/article/content/2013-piaa-district-one-boys-soccer-aaa-bracket