Blast From the Past

Blast From The Past 1984

The 1984 Aces' boy's soccer team is responsible for moving LM's soccer program back into elite status after many down years. Since then the Aces have qualified for the District 1 Playoffs in 29 of the last 32 years.

They won the Central League Title with a league record of 9-1-3, recording 9 shutouts, scoring 29 goals, and allowing only 8. At that point in time the Central League was divided into 2 divisions, and the 2 division winners played each other for the Central League Championship. It would be LM against their fierce rival Strath Haven (a team the Aces had defeated 1-0 during the season). In that Championship game it was LM prevailing again 1-0 on a goal from Michael Surbeck.

In the District Playoffs the Aces first blanked Kennett Square 2-0, then beat West Chester East 3-2 in OT. In the District Semi-Final they suffered a tough 2-1 loss to Strath Haven, dashing their District Title hopes. They needed to beat Upper Moreland on their home field in the District 3rd place game to move on to the State Playoffs. After a 1-1 tie thru regulation & overtimes the game went to PK's. On Upper Moreland's last kick LM goalkeeper Ted Sorkin made an outstanding save to earn the Aces their first ever trip to the State Playoffs.

In their 1st State Playoff game they defeated District 3 Champion Conrad Weiser 2-1, and then District 4 Champion Millville 5-4. In the State Semi-Final they faced District 7 Champion Mount Lebanon, ranked #1 in the state at the time (LM was ranked 4th). After a scoreless regulation & overtimes it was PK's once again. On their last kick the "Lebos" missed wide left and the Aces were in their 1st ever official State Championship Final. They faced Neshaminy, the District 1 Champion, and lost a very close contest 1-0. The Aces finished with a 17-3-4 overall record.

This team would start a dominance for LM Soccer in the next 7 years that yielded 5 Central League Titles, 1 District One Championship & 1 runner-up, and 3 appearances in the State Final game, winning it all in 1987.