Bouncing Back

The Aces hosted non-league opponent Interboro this morning on the turf at Arnold Field. The Bucs are Del-Val League contenders this year and would be a good test. LM controlled the early play and it didn't take long to get on the board as midway through the 1st half sophmore Max Shapiro took a beautiful cross and found the lower right corner of the net to give the Aces a 1-0 advantage. There was a lot of back & forth throughout the contest with both teams getting several good scoring chances. With about 10 minutes remaining Interboro was awarded a PK for a hand ball in the box. Junior goalkeeper Sabastian Jenkins made the save to keep LM on top. This miss seemed to ignite the Bucs as late in the game they peppered the Aces' net, but couldn't get one past this young defense. Final score 1-0 LM.

Next up for the Aces is a home  league game against Haverford High on Thursday at 3:45 PM.

LM Soccer Alumni news

The 2015 LM soccer season is already into week 2 and hopefully you are getting all the 2015 Aces' results, as well as other LM Soccer Alumni news, at "Coach D's Blog", located at: www.coachdssoccerblog.blogspot.com. Bookmark it and be a regular visitor. I post about 3 times a week during the soccer season.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I would be giving you the info on the annual "Steve Fountain Memorial Golf Tournament", our only LMSAA (Lower Merion Soccer Alumni Association) fundraiser each year. It will be held on Friday, October 23rd, at Edgmont Golf Club in Edgmont.

There are many ways to support our fundraiser, and the LMSAA, and you don't have to be a golfer or even live in the area. If you go to our LM Soccer Alumni website at: www.lmsocceralum.org and click on the Golf Invite, it will list all the details.

Ways you can support the LMSAA

1/ You can play in the golf event (which is a scramble format) as a single golfer, or we can pair you up with other LM Soccer Alumni who will be playing.

2/ You can sign up as a foursome and bring 3 friends with you

3/ If you don't golf you can sign up to be one of the sponsors that are listed on the invite, OR, you may know someone who would like to be a sponsor and get a little publicity & goodwill for their company. Many of you found sponsors for us last year and it was greatly appreciated. I hope we can repeat that this year. This is the lifeblood of our fundraiser (the Golf Invite on our website explains how each type of sponsorship works)

* We are in need of hole sponsors ($250) and contest sponsors ($400) so please give it a look

4/ Or you can simply make a donation

How to register as a golfer, a sponsor, or make a donation

A. There are 2 ways to register as a golfer, a sponsor, or to make a donation

         1/ mail a check with the appropriate amount, made out to the

            “LMSAA”, to our LMSAA treasurer Jim VanDusen (LM

             class of ’89) to the address below:

                  Jim VanDusen

                  800 Maple Glen Lane

                  Wayne, PA 19087-4727

* Golfer - choose Single Golfer or Foursome,  
* Sponsor - choose your level of Sponsorship from the Golf Invite (prices & exposure for each are listed on the Invite),  
* Donation – any amount

         2/ You can also pay online at our LM Soccer Alumni website www.lmsocceralum.org by:

1/ going to the home page of our LM Soccer Alumni website and clicking on the golf invite

2/ scroll down to review all the sponsorship & golfing opportunities

3/ click on “click here to register” and fill out the registration form

4/ then scroll down and click on the package that best fits your situation and then click on “submit” (this will register your info)

5/ then, if you just want to make a donation click on the “Donate” button

6/ or, click on “proceed to purchase golf package” and that will take you to the web store

I would like to again thank you all for your continued support for this great event and for Lower Merion Soccer. I hope to be hearing from you soon.

 

Central League opener

The Aces hosted the highly ranked Conestoga Pioneers yesterday afternoon, and it was experience against heart. The Pioneers returned most of their starters, and are the defending Central League Champs. LM had to rebuild from losing 9 starters, but were coming off 2 good shutout wins to start the season. The Aces defense came up big in the 1st half, and the offense got a few good early scoring chances, but at intermission the game remained scoreless. In the 2nd half the Pioneers began to  sustain their offensive pressure, and were awarded several free kicks & throw-ins deep in the LM end. It finally paid off midway thru the half in the form of 2 goals coming from long throw-ins 10 minutes apart. The Aces couldn't answer, and were dealt their 1st loss of the young season 2-0.

Next on the schedule is a non-league contest this Saturday, on the turf at Arnold Field ((10 AM) against Interboro H.S.

Fast Start

The Aces traveled to Bonner this afternoon, trying to build on the momentum from their 1-0 season opener win last Friday at Avon Grove. The Friars were over matched from the beginning as the Aces exploded for 5 goals in the 1st half and cruised to their 2nd win of the season. They displayed much better build up in the midfield, which resulted in many good scoring opportunities, and a bushel full of goals, while their defense was rarely tested.

It will be a different story this Thursday when LM hosts highly touted Conestoga in their 1st Central League game of the season, 3:45 PM on the turf at Arnold Field. The Pioneers return 16 players from their 2014 Central League championship team and are highly ranked in all the area soccer polls. It will be a stiff test for the young Aces' squad.

In LM Soccer Alumni news our annual "Alumni Game" is set for Saturday morning, October 17th, at 10 AM on the boy's grass soccer field at Arnold Field. We are hoping for a big turnout this year so we have enough to pick 2 teams and play each other. However, we need to know how many we can expect to be playing so we can make the proper arrangements. If you're in please email me at: bubdavidson@comcast.net and let me know soon. Please pass the word to other LM Soccer Alumni you keep in touch with.

Also, the date has been set for our annual LMSAA (Lower Merion Soccer Alumni Association) fundraiser, the "Steve Fountain Memorial Golf Event". The Date is Friday, October 23rd, at Edgmont Golf Club in Edgmont PA (15 minutes from LMHS). More details to follow in my next blog.

The Journey Begins

This morning the Aces traveled to Avon Grove for a non-league season opener. With 8 new starters in the lineup, including an almost brand new defense, it will be trail by fire until this young & inexperienced squad start to come together. With no details available at this time, the Aces earned a 1-0 shutout win. I'll get into more details about the roster, the expectations, team leaders, etc. in my next blog.

I would like to inform all our LM Soccer Alumni who read this blog that the annual "Alumni Game" has been scheduled for Saturday morning, October 17th, at 10 AM on the boy's soccer field at Arnold Field. Our goal this year is to get enough interest to have an all-LM affair, splitting the players into 2 teams. To do this we would need at least 25 participants so we need everyone's help. Please pass this on to other alums you keep in touch with even though you may not know if they will be interested. Everyone is welcome, even if you just plan to watch & catch up with old friends.

Everyone who can make it should email me at bubdavidson@comcast.net and let me know. We need to make plans soon for possible lunches after the game & referees. Please spread the word, especially to those who have graduated in the past 5 years or so as they are under-represented in our LM Soccer Alumni activities.

Season opener tomorrow

The Aces finished up with their 2nd of 2 scrimmages yesterday with West Chester Rustin and are now ready for the 2015 season opener tomorrow morning at Avon Grove (10 AM).

LM lost 8-9 starters from last year's squad that went 12-7-1, finishing 6th in the Central League. Coach Nico Severini is hoping that the non-starters & JV players from last year will be able to step up this year and make an impact. Graduation hit the defense the hardest as they lost both goalkeepers and 3/4 of their defensive backfield. The good news is that they have some talented underclassmen in juniors Alex Moureaud & Ryan Tillman, sophmores Thomas Podrasky & Max Shapiro, as well as an outstanding freshman class.

Conestoga looks like the team to beat with 16-17 players back from their Central League Championship team so it looks like the young inexperienced Aces will have to grow up fast as they host the Pioneers next Thursday.

Under way

Welcome back from what I hope was a wonderful summer for everyone. When summer ends, LM soccer begins, and the young 2015 Aces' have been at it now for 2 weeks. With already 1 scrimmage under their belts, and another scheduled for this Wednesday on Arnold Field at 4:30 PM vs. West Chester Rustin, the pieces of a new season are starting to fall into place.

As you can see from the 2015 schedule, posted just to the right, LM opens their season this Friday at Avon Grove (10 AM) with hopes of another District One playoff spot, and to be in the mix for the Central League title. Beginning next week I will be blogging 2-3 times a week to keep you posted on the team's progress, along with LM soccer alumni news.

Speaking of which, a firm date has not been set yet for the annual "Lower Merion Soccer Alumni Game", but as soon as it is I will post that info right here on my blog and hopefully we can get a very good turnout this year. All I can tell you now that it will be on a Saturday afternoon, at Arnold Field, in late September or early October.

However, I can tell you that our annual "Steve Fountain Golf Event" fundraiser will be held this year on Friday, October 23rd at Edgmont Golf Club on West Chester Pike in Edgmont. For those LM Soccer alums & friends in the area I hope you will be able to come out this year and join us. If you can't there are several ways you can help this event be successful. More details to come.

Sad news

Its with sadness that I tell you that Mr. Bob Ruoff passed away this past Thursday, July 24th. Bob was a principal at Lower Merion High School, and a long time member of the PIAA. He was also a champion of high school soccer. He will be sadly missed.