Thriller at Arnold

This afternoon LM hosted the Haverford Fords in a key Central League game. Already 0-1 in league play the Aces needed a win to stay in early contention. The game started out slow, with both teams in a defense-first mode. LM used a 6 man sub rotation to keep the players fresh in the high 80 degree conditions.

With very few scoring chances for either team through the 1st 20 minutes, the Fords would break the ice first. With 18 minutes left in the 1st half their #10 scored on a beautiful turnaround 18 yard bullet, giving Aces' junior goalkeeper Sebastian Jenkins no chance. Two minutes later, juiced by the early goal, the Fords tested Jenkins again but this time he came up with a big save. A few minutes later LM had their own good chance but shot wide from 15 yards out. Despite dominating most of the 1st half LM had trouble building forward, despite a strong performance by their senior center midfielder Max Knight-Surie who was making plays all over the field.

In the 2nd half Haverford came out even more defensive, so, being 1 goal down, coach Severini made a move to bolster his offense. He brought senior center back Quinn Vagnoni up into center midfield, immediately paying dividends. The Aces began getting great scoring opportunities and early in the half an LM corner kick beat the Ford keeper but was alertly saved by one of the post defenders. LM's biggest weapon in the 2nd half proved to be senior Jeremy Hillsberg long throw-ins. As the game clocked ticked down under 2 minutes one of those throws would find the foot of junior Alex Moureaud, who ripped one low left from 10 yards out and the game was tied 1-1, and would go into sudden-victory OT.

There was no score in the 1st 10 minute period, but with 6 minutes left in the 2nd Hillsberg lined up for still another long throw-in deep in the Ford end. This time the ball rebounded off a Haverford player and into the net for an own goal, and a hard fought 2-1 OT win for the Aces.

Next up LM travels to Upper Darby on Saturday for another key Central League game (10 AM start).