Bounce Back

After losing a tough 1-0 OT decision to Central League rival Conestoga on Thursday the Aces were looking to bounce back against non-league opponent Archbishop Carroll this morning.

LM rebounded nicely notching a 2-0 victory, with both goals coming off restarts. Senior midfielder Even Wolff got the first one off a long throw-in, and Ryan Tillman later converted from a set piece. The Aces D threw another shutout, their 3rd in 4 games.

The Aces have a big week coming up when they go back into the Central League on Tuesday, traveling to Haverford High (3:45 PM), and on Thursday, hosting Upper Darby (3:45 PM). Saturday begins with the annual "LM Soccer Alumni Game" at Noon on Arnold Field, followed at 2:30 PM when the current Aces host non-league opponent Pennridge.

League Opener

This afternoon last year's top two Central League teams faced off in the league opener for both teams. LM (with only 5 seniors on the squad) came in ranked 7th in this week's Inquirer Top 10 Poll and Conestoga 9th, the only 2 Central League teams to make the list.

The 1st half was very uneventful, with neither team trying to possess the ball and both teams getting their few scoring chance from long balls & restarts. The Aces best chance came when sophmore Alex Moureaud found himself open inside the 18 but his shot just missed wide left. Stoga had a mini breakaway but was stoned by LM keeper Will Rosenbaum. 0-0 at halftime.

In the 2nd half the Pioneers came out of their defensive posture and started to string some passes together through midfield, and that resulted in several good scoring chances. For some reason LM's usually solid defense seemed a little unsure on occasion, but was still good enough to keep Stoga off the board during regulation. 0-0 going into sudden-death (golden goal) overtime.

The lack of an offensive thrust on the part of the Aces, and the momentum the Pioneers had created in the 2nd half, proved to be the difference. Six minutes into the first overtime period Stoga scored on a header off a long cross and LM suffered their 1st loss of the new season.

Next up for the Aces is a Saturday non-league game at Archbishop Carroll (11:00 AM). 

"D" is key

                                                  Aces' Roee Baror gets winning goal
                                                  Courtesy of Juan Munoz

The Aces hosted non-league opponent Bonner this afternoon on the grass at Arnold Field. Most of the first 20 minutes was played in the middle third of the field with both teams feeling each other out. As the 1st half continued the Aces began to get the better of the offensive chances, with their defense ever so solid. With 12 minutes remaining in the 1st half it was the Aces' Roee Baror getting a nice thru pass about 40 yards out and neatly converted the breakaway opportunity to give LM a 1-0 halftime lead.

Playing in 91 degree heat was tough on both teams as the play slowed down a little in the 2nd half. With the Aces' defense looking solid it was just a question of whether they would be able to pad their lead. They weren't, so the final was another 1-0 win. This brought LM's overall record to 2-0 for the season, with their Central League opener coming this Thursday at Conestoga (3:45 PM).

Last call for the annual LM Soccer "Alumni Game", Saturday, September 13th, Noon tap off, on the grass at Arnold Field. We could use a few more players. If you're interested email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net and let me know.

Also, our Facebook campaign to find more LM Soccer Alums is starting to take off. Go to LM Soccer Alumni on Facebook and "like" & "share the site with any other ex-players you keep in touch with.

Here we go again

The LM Aces opened their 2014 campaign with a pretty big act to follow. Last year's squad went undefeated in the regular season, allowing only 2 goals in 16 games. They also won the Central League Championship before losing on penalty kicks in the 1st round of the District 1 playoffs.

Today LM hosted non-league rival West Chester East on the turf at Arnold Field. Senior goalkeeper Will Rosenbaum picked up where he left off last year notching his 1st shutout of the new season. The Aces got a goal from senior Gian-Luca Hail, off an assist by Anthony Haines, and that would be all they would need.

This coming Tuesday the Aces host another non-league opponent in Bonner, before opening their 2014 Central League schedule at Conestoga on Thursday. Both games are at 3:45 PM.

Annual LM Soccer "ALUMNI GAME"

Anyone interested in playing in the annual LM Soccer "Alumni Game" on Saturday, September 13th, at Noon on Arnold Field, please email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net so I know how many players to plan for. Hope you can make it.

Also, the LMSAA is now on Facebook, at "LM Soccer Alumni Association". We are looking to contact more of our LM Soccer Alumni, especially those more recent graduates. Log into your Facebook account and "like" and "share" this site. 

Annual LM Soccer Alumni game

The annual Lower Merion Soccer "Alumni Game" is scheduled for Saturday, September 13th at noon. It will be played at Arnold Field on the upper grass soccer field.

Lunch will be provided to all LM Soccer Alumni participants & their families after the game. Also after the game the 2014 LM Aces soccer team will be hosting Pennridge on the turf at 2:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to stay and cheer on our current Aces' team.

I need to know how many players we will have, and how many family members will be joining us for lunch so please email me ASAP at bubdavidson@comcast.net. Players should bring a white shirt & a dark shirt, some liquid refreshment, & soccer shoes.

Please spread the word to other LM Soccer Alumni and have them email me if they are interested.

2014 Golf Event Date

Greetings to all fellow LM Soccer Alumni scattered all around the country, and those living abroad. Pre-season practice starts this coming Monday. Welcome back.

We have scheduled the date for our Annual Steve Fountain Memorial Golf Tournament, to be held on Friday, October 24^th at the Edgmont Golf Club in Edgmont, PA. We’re proud to say that this is the 10^th anniversary of this event and it promises to be a great time for everyone involved.

Steve Fountain, class of ’89, was a 3-year varsity soccer player for LM. He died of cancer in his early 30’s, leaving a wife and two daughters, ages 4 & 2. Two of his teammates, Brian Vernick & Jim VanDusen, started an Education Fund for his daughters in his name and thus the Steve Fountain Memorial Golf Tournament was born.

Sponsored by the LMSAA (Lower Merion Soccer Alumni Association), this event, in its first 9 years, has helped raise over $80,000 for the  Fountain Education Fund, a trust set up for his daughter’s education.

We would like to take this time to thank all of you who have helped our cause in the past in any of the following capacities;

1/ Playing in the golf event

2/ Finding a sponsor, or being a sponsor, for the golf event; either as a            

            A/ Presenting Sponsor

            B/ Platinum Sponsor

            C/ Gold Sponsor

            D/ or a Hole Sponsor

3/ Providing prizes for the golf event

4/ Making donations to the LMSAA

We are sending this initial letter in hopes that all of you who have supported this cause in the past will be able to do so again this year.  We will be sending out more info on this event shortly, as well as posting it on our LM Soccer Alumni website at www.lmsocceralum.org and putting it up on “Coach D’s” blog at www.coachdssoccerblog.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your continued support.

Welcome Back

As summer begins another LM soccer season can't be far behind. I would like to welcome all our visitors back here to Coach D's Blog and to another upcoming season of LM Aces soccer.

Save the date:

Our annual LM Soccer Alumni Weekend this year will be the 2nd weekend in September. We have scheduled our annual "LM Soccer Alumni Game" for Saturday, September 13th, at Noon. It will be played at Arnold field on one of the grass soccer fields. Following the game the defending Central League Champion LM Soccer Aces will be hosting Pennridge in a non-league contest on the turf at 2:30 PM.

Other events are in the works, and as they become scheduled I will post it here on Coach D's Blog. We are hoping to get a real strong turnout this year for our "Alumni Game", especially trying to get some of our more recently graduated Soccer Alumni involved. Those of you who are reading this please mark your calendars now and start spreading the word.

Also feel free to check out our LM Soccer Alumni website at: lmsocceralum.org.  You will find a complete history of LM Soccer with stats, pictures, videos, and much more. Bookmark it now.