LM hosted Upper Merion this afternoon, a team who needed a win or tie to make the District 1 "AAA" Playoffs. The Aces added 2 more starters to their injured list; joining seniors David Novacich & Erez Potok-Holmes were two more seniors; center back David Smith & Striker Ryan Tillman. All 4 would miss this afternoon's game. LM, having already punched their ticket to the District One "AAAA" playoffs, were playing for seeding, and a potential 1st round bye.
It was a slow start for both teams, but midway thru the 1st half LM senior Alex Moureaud would get two good looks in the box off long throws, but both headers were a little off the mark. Upper Merion was getting no offensive thrust at all, while all the Aces' chances were coming of set pieces. With 7 minutes left LM senior Will Cypress would take a perfect pass from fellow senior Andreas Blobel, but shot just wide. Two minutes later Blobel would beat a defender & rip a shot from 18 out but the UM keeper came up with a big save. One minuter later the Aces would score on a beautiful header from senior Robert Chukinas, off a well placed corner by sophomore Tim O'Hare. 1-0 LM at halftime.
In the 2nd half the Aces slowly took over the game, with Blobel, much more than picking up the slack at midfield, playing his best game of the season. Also contributing quality minutes was sophomore Ethan Blouin, playing very steady at wingback & in the midfield. With 12 minutes left in the game LM would get the clincher, scoring one of the prettiest goals of the season. O'Hare put a corner kick just past the far post, Chukinas was there and made a brilliant touch header to a wide open Blobel,
who put it home past the helpless UM keeper. 2-0 final.
DISTRICT ONE PLAYOFF INFO
This will be the 1st year that District One will implement changes in their playoff system.
1/ This year there will be 4 classifications instead of 3, based on school size ("AAAA", "AAA", "AA", & "A"). The Aces will be in "AAAA".
2/ In choosing the playoff teams in each classification, they will be using a new point system, based on wins & ties + strength of schedule, that is too complicated to explain in this blog.
3/ The 24 teams with the most points will make the playoffs, with the top 8 receiving 1st round byes. The higher seeded team will get to play on their home field in 1st & 2nd round games. The District 1 semis & final will be at night on a neutral field TBA.
4/ First round District One playoff games begin next Tuesday, October 25th, with 2nd round games scheduled for Thursday, October 27th.
5/ The top 4 teams will qualify for the PIAA State Playoffs.
* To see the point rankings, as of the end of yesterday, click on the link below. Since they're still may be some games played tomorrow, they won't have the final point totals until those games are completed. As of right now LM stands as the 7th seed (with Conestoga at #1, Haverford High at #22, & Penncrest at #24, the only other Central League teams in the mix)
https://gv1-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dmoffett_gvsd_org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?guestaccesstoken=uh6BCrEqcqenAgdYQwiwlVNbdfpAEY6PTR6zre5W90I%3d&docid=0815f73dd82a244a3a79019e7cbec4076&action=view
* The District One Playoff brackets will probably be available to view on Sunday evening. To see them click on the link below. If you see last year's 2015 bracket up there you know it hasn't been updated yet.
http://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/2015_AAAB_SOC_Brax.pdf
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