Looking to Rebound

After a tough loss to Radnor last Thursday, the Aces hosted a very scrappy West Chester Rustin team this afternoon on Arnold Field. Before the game all 11 seniors, escorted by their parents, were honored for their contributions to the Lower Merion Soccer legacy. They are (in order of their number): goalkeeper Sabastian Jenkins-Prieto, David Smith, Andreas Blobel, Ryan Tillmann, Alex Moureaud, David Novacich, Erez Potok-Holmes, Ori Holtzman, Robert Chukinas, Som Safavi, & William Cypress. Congratulations to all. 

Less than a minute into the game LM senior Andreas Blobel took a well placed corner kick right in front but couldn't get enough on it. Rustin came out in a very defensive posture, crowding the middle of the field & keeping 4 defenders back. It seemed to work as the only Aces' scoring opportunities ...for awhile, would come from long throw-ins & corner kicks. With all that traffic in the middle Rustin did what no other team could do thus far, keep sophomore Tim O'Hare in check. Toward the end of the half the Aces would begin to adapt, shooting from further out on the collapsing defense and playing outside in. LM Senior Alex Moureaud loaded up from 22 yards out but the Rustin keeper came up big. One minute later Moureaud went wide, took the baseline, and slotted a nice ball that was eventually cleared. At the defensive end the Aces' D had little trouble, with senior David Smith having another strong game and keeper Jenkins facing only 1 weak shot the entire half. 0-0 at intermission.

In the 2nd half LM upped their game with some outstanding play from senior David Novacich. Besides demonstrating wonderful ball control through midfield, he also got off a couple of rips on the Rustin net but their keeper was equal to the challenge. After getting a ball squarely in the face midway through the 2nd half, he would be forced to sit out the remainder of the game and he would be missed.

Moureaud got off still another long blast, but again the Rustin keeper responded. I think a little frustration set in and the Aces' shooters began to rush their shots. A free kick from 19 yards out was hit over the crossbar, and a breakaway was saved to keep the game scoreless. Despite LM totally dominating the 2nd half, regulation play ended 0-0, and it was on to sudden-victory OT.

With 3 minutes gone in the 1st 10-minute overtime period Aces' junior Max Shapiro had the game winner on his foot from just 10 yards out but once again the Rustin keeper would make the save. Senior David Smith also got a good look off a long throw, but was also stoned. In the 2nd overtime period, with less than 2 minutes remaining, LM senior Ryan Tillman went in on a clean breakaway but his shot hit the post and bounced over the end line. It looked like a sure tie, but with only 35 seconds left LM junior Yanni Monos finally solved the absolute gem that the Rustin keeper threw at the Aces by knocking in a rebound in front of the net and LM came away with the win.

In tomorrow's post we'll take a look at the Conestoga game coming up next Tuesday night at "Stoga's Teamer Field, and a little of the history between these two rivals.