Great Week

The Aces stayed unbeaten in Central League play as they defeated an always dangerous Haverford High team yesterday 2-0. Junior defender David Rosenfeld gave LM the lead in the 1st half, and senior midfielder Max Tassano scored on a pretty 19-yard direct kick to ice it in the 2nd. That's more than the Aces defense & goalkeeper Jack Van Adelsberg would need, as they recorded their 6 shutout of the season.

This brings LM's overall record to 8-1, with a perfect 5-0 in league play. Next week's schedule could very well decide the 2009 Central League Champion, as the Aces travel to Upper Darby (4-0-1 league) on Tuesday, and on Thursday host Strath Haven (5-0 league). Both games are at 3:45 PM.

The annual Alumni Game is only 2 weeks from tomorrow, so clear your schedule and come on out and join us. I need to know in advance who will be playing, as every player will receive a jersey. I also need to know our total LMSAA representation, so we can have lunches ready for everyone after the game. If you haven't already done so, email me at bubdavidson@comcast.net if you plan to join us.

Key League Contest

After losing their 1st game to Parkland last Friday, the Aces slipped to 3rd in the Southeastern PA boy's soccer poll, behind #2 North Catholic and #1 Council Rock North. This afternoon LM (6-1-0) took on #8 ranked Conestoga (6-0-1) in a key Central League match-up. It was a very evenly played game for most of the 1st half, until senior Ben Sataloff converted a cross to give the Aces the lead. With senior goalkeeper Jack Van Adelsberg playing very impressively, and senior Momadu Sluwar controlling the defense, that one goal would hold up, and LM remained perfect in league play. On Thursday the Aces will host Haverford High at 3:45 PM, still another important league contest.

The annual Alumni Game is only 2 weeks from this Saturday, and I hope those of you in the area can come out and join the festivities. Please email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net and let me know your intentions, as we need a player count for jerseys, and a total count for lunches.

Our LMSAA (Lower Merion Soccer Alumni Association) operates on a very small budget, which we use for things like; costs to maintain the website, providing jerseys, lunches, refs, etc. for the Alumni Game, LM Soccer Hall of Fame induction costs, etc. In order to cover these costs, we need to ask all of our members for annual dues of $10. For those wishing to give more it is not required, but certainly much appreciated. Please make your checks out to “LMSAA”, and send them to: Jim Van Dusen (class of '89) at the following address: 800 Marple Glen Lane, Wayne, PA 19087-4727

We thank all of you for the contribution you made, back in your playing days, to help make the LM Soccer program the great success that it is today. And we also greatly appreciate your continued support of Aces soccer.

First Blemish

The Aces traveled to Parkland yesterday to make up the postponed contest from last Saturday. As it turned out, they should have cancelled the game altogether. LM came out flat, and Parkland scored first, on a deflection coming from a corner kick, to take a 1-0 lead. This was only the 3rd goal given up by the Aces defense this season. Senior co-captain Jonny Dolezal tied it up just before halftime, and it looked like LM had a little momentum coming out for the 2nd half. However, 2 more goals by Parkland sealed the deal, and the Aces had their first loss of the season. The only silver lining was that it came against a non-league opponent, and may prove to be a wake-up call for the young LM team.

This coming Tuesday the Aces play their biggest game of the season so far, when they host the undefeated Conestoga Pioneers in a key Central League match-up at 3:45 PM.

Keep those emails coming about joining us at the October 10th Alumni game. I heard from quite a few of you last week and am looking for many more to join us. If you plan to play, or just be a spectator, we would love to see you there. Please email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net with your intentions. Players, make sure you include your shirt size.

Solid & Consistent

The Aces continued their solid, consistent play last night at Radnor, winning 2-0, recording their 5 shutout in their first 6 games. Not bad for a team who graduated 12 seniors, including 9 starters & 2 High School All-Americans. This keeps LM tied for 1st in the Central League with Strath Haven at 3-0, with Upper Darby & Conestoga, playing to a scoreless tie last night, both at 2-0-1. The 2009 Central League champion certainly will come from one of these 4 teams.

LM's game last Saturday at Parkland, postponed due to rain, has been reschedule for this Friday at 3 PM, followed next Tuesday with a huge Central League contest at home with Conestoga (3:45 PM).

It's good to see the emails coming in from those of you who plan on attending our annual "Alumni Game" on Saturday, October 10th, at 10 AM. Keep them coming, as we would love to get a record turnout. If you plan on playing, or just attending, the "Alumni Game" please email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net (players make sure you include your shirt size).

Thank you all for your continued support for LM Aces soccer.

Moving Up

With a perfect 5-0 record thus far (2-0 in league play), the LM Aces moved up to #2 in the Southeastern PA Soccer Coaches Association Poll, right behind #1 Pennsbury. Other Central League teams in the top 20 are Conestoga (3-0) at #11 and Upper Darby (4-0) at #13.

LM has a tough match-up with Central League rival Radnor tomorrow night at the Raiders home field (7 PM), followed by an open weekend.

I am starting to get a lot of response for the upcoming annual LM Soccer Alumni game, which will take place on Saturday, October 10th, at 10 AM sharp. If you're interested in attending, either as a player or spectator, please email me at; bubdavidson@comcast.net. It promises to be a great day to dust off the old spikes one more time, renew old acquaintances, and watch the 2009 Aces take on non-league opponent Interboro. Spread the word and let's have a record turnout.

Speaking of renewing old acquaintances, I would like to hear from anyone out there who has an LM Soccer memory to share, and/or an old picture of your LM Soccer days. I'll gladly post these on a regular basis for all of our fellow LMSAA members to see.

Still Perfect

The Aces played their first home game of the young 2009 season this afternoon against Central League opponent Ridley. The offsides trap the Green Raiders employed only seemed to work in their favor for the first 15 minutes of the game, until senior Jordan Wolf got LM on the board. From then on it was all Aces, as Wolf would go on to score a hat trick, senior Momadu Sluwar would add 2 goals of his own, and LM walked away with a 12-0 victory. This kept them a perfect 2-0 in Central League play, and 5-0 overall.

Next on the schedule will be a trip up route 30 to play a tough Radnor squad in a key Central League match up, this Wednesday night at 7 PM.

Alumni Game - October 10th

As I have mentioned before, both on this blog and in the emails, our annual "Alumni Game" will be played on Saturday, October 10th, on the turf at Arnold Field. Game time is 10 AM sharp! As we did last year, our LM Aces alumni team will be playing against a Radnor alumni club team. Last year our LM team was low on numbers, sustained a few sidelining injuries, and wound up on the wrong end of a 4-2 score. We want a little payback this year, so we need a good turnout from our proud LM Aces Alumni players, especially those who have graduated in the last 10 years, who have been conspiciously absent these past several alumni games. As they say, you can't coach youth.

If you plan on playing, please email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net. We will provide a jersey for all players (include your shirt size in your email) , as well as lunch after the game, so I need an accurate count. For those of you who have played your last game, but would still like to come out and root our LM Aces Alumni team to victory, we would love to have you join the fun. You can also email me as well, and let me know you're coming. Once I begin putting out all the names of who will be there, I'm sure other LM soccer alumni will follow suit.