Lower Merion High School | Archive | October, 2013

Palma, a senior striker for the Lower Merion High School boys’ soccer team,  has been scoring plenty of big goals for the Aces (undefeated as of Oct. 14). He tallied the game-winner in key victories against Central Bucks West and Garnet Valley, and dished out assists for both of the Aces’ goals in their win against Harriton. He also tallied a key goal in the Aces’ win against Conestoga, and scored a hat trick against Strath Haven. He is from Lisbon, Portugal, and has been living in the United States since mid-summer.

Main Line Media News: What to you has been the highlight of your Lower Merion soccer career to date? Can you share with us your most vivid memory of that experience?

Francisco Palma: The goal against Conestoga and hat-trick against Strath Haven. Celebrating with my teammates, everyone was really happy – it was in those games that we started putting ourselves in a nice spot in the league.

Main Line Media News: You scored the game-winning goal against both Central Bucks West and Garnet Valley. Can you describe for us how those two plays developed?

Francisco Palma: Against CB West I had two very nice shots. Against Garnet Valley it was a little different, we were tied 2-2 in the last minute. After a great play [involving] three teammates, I had the opportunity to score, the goalie came out and I chipped the ball over him.

Main Line Media News: You’re currently a striker, and have played as a fullback, center mid and wing. What do you think is the strongest part of your game?

Francisco Palma: I think that taking on defenders is a strong part of my game.

Main Line Media News: Who is your favorite soccer player, and why?

Francisco Palma: My favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo, he works really hard, he plays on one of best teams in the world and he plays for my [native] country.

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Lower Merion boys’ soccer junior keeper Will Rosenbaum knew the perfect birthday present would be a win over Central League rival Strath Haven.
With first place in the Central League on the line, Lower Merion’s defense anchored by Rosenbaum stepped everything that came in their direction, as the Aces were able to escape with a 3-0 win, with Francisco Palma providing all of the offense with a hat trick.
“I could not ask for anything more,” said Rosenbaum, who registered six saves. “This was the perfect gift.”
The hard fought win raised Lower Merion’s record to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Central League.

This was not an easy win,” said coach Nico Severini. “Strath Haven is a talented team that is well coached.”
Rosenbaum, a first-year starter, is probably like most goalies that would prefer to start the game with a couple of easy saves. Unfortunately that is not always the case.
On a sun-splashed afternoon at Arnold Field, the Panthers were on the prowl right from the opening whistle. In the first 15 minutes, Rosenbaum got into the flow real quick having to make three point blank saves to help keep the match scoreless.
“That was huge,” said senior midfielder David Baer, who recently returned from a knee injury. “Will came up with big saves early which helped us stay in the contest.”
Nico Severini added, “Will has experience. Jorge (Severini) has been training him well. He is taking a leadership role which is not easy as a junior.”
While the offense has certainly done their part, the defensive side of the ball has been equally impressive making it tough for opponents to get decent scoring chances.
Leading the defensive charge has been the play of center backs Baer, senior Tyler Robinson and junior Gian-Luca Hail. Junior Evan Wolfe and sophomore Quinn Vagnoni have done the job on the right and left sides, respectively while senior Daniel Buckman has performed well on both sides of the pitch.
The team first mentality was huge early in the season when the Aces learned they would be without Baer for the early part of the season. Although he could not play, Baer was there to support his teammates and help guide the players replacing him in the line-up until his return.
“It is great know we have depth,” said Rosenbaum. “I know it was hard for Dave not to be out there but it speaks to the team that we still got results.”
“We have a solid core that is basically playing for each other,” Severini said. “We are fortunate be clicking on many levels, and have the squad on the team first philosophy.”

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6. Central Bucks East (11-3-0)

7. North Penn (11-2-2)

8. Holy Ghost Prep (12-3-0)

9. Haverford School (10-3-0)

10. St. Joseph’s Prep (10-3-3)

11. La Salle (11-4-0)

12. Conestoga (12-4-1)

13. Bensalem (11-4-0)

14. Upper Dublin (11-3-0)

15. Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-2-2)

16. West Chester Henderson (12-3-1)

17. West Chester Rustin (12-4-0)

18. Spring-Ford (13-2-1)

19. Central Bucks West (8-4-3)

20. Wissahickon (11-4-0)
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/rally/227742501.html#cHIjsSCDtUvoFPKt.99

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Congratulations to Coach Vogan one of the most classiest and stand up men I have met. We are lucky to compete against coaches like him.

It takes a village to raise a child, so say some. Does it? Probably this is a
matter for the more sociologically astute among us to debate. Whether it is,
indeed, fact or fallacy, it will remain a topic rife with conjecture.

You might want to consider Conestoga football coach John Vogan as someone who
leans toward the “pro’ side on the subject. Vogan, who rang up his 100th career
win last Saturday when the Pioneers defeated Lower Merion, 35-0, will cite
chapter and verse when it comes to saying the milestone was something wholly
different from being a one-man production.

En route to being doused by torrent from the Gatorade buckets by two of his
players, Vogan quoted the indomitable Mr. Spock from the Star Trek saga The
Wrath of Khan after the historic win: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs
of one.’

Vogan wanted his troops to know that no one individual was greater than the
sum of the team. He alone was not responsible the many thrilling moments he, his
players, and the fans have enjoyed during his 13 seasons.

“When you reach an achievement like this,’ he said, “there’s a recipe. You
have great coaches, great kids who buy into what you’re saying, and you have a
great administration. The whole community is responsible for something like
this.’

Ah, but there is an interesting dichotomy to this plot. As much as this was a
“community’ triumph, Vogan testifies to the two singular influences in not only
his approach to football, but also life.

One is Bill Paolantonio, the legendary Pennsylvania High School Football
Hall of Fame coach who laid waste to the Ches-Mont League before Conestoga
joined the Central League in the late 1960s. He was not only Vogan’s high school
coach, but also his mentor when he became the latest among “Pal’s’ successors in
2001.

“Growing up, I watched my brother and his friends playing for ‘ Pal,” said
Vogan. “He was all discipline. He had a belief. You had to do it his way. He
said you have to truly believe in what you’re doing. He demanded the best out of
you every second. As mentors, I couldn’t have asked for any better than ‘ Pal’
and Gerry Gasser (former athletic director). When you’re a young coach, you
don’t always think things through. They would help me in that regard.

“Pal would say ‘ Success has a price,’ and that price is hard work,
execution, and consistency. It’s who blocks better, who tackles better. That’s
what he always impressed upon me. And, I don’t think that’s changed. With Pal,
you worked on it until you got it right.’

While Pal handled the gridiron side, the personal touch was provided by
Mary-ann, Momma Vogan. She was her son’s biggest fan. Always there with her
support. A word of encouragement. A calming influence after performances that
would totally frustrate or deflate her son. She was “The Boss.’

“She was the major influence in my coaching and personal life,’ said Vogan.
“Thank The Lord, she would calm me down after games. She would have been the one
to say, ‘ Don’t be upset with the boys who dumped the water on you.”

Mary-ann would always have a memento waiting for him next to the sofa in his
home after every 10th win: a pennant with that specific number, 10, 20, 30, etc.
The last one he has represented the 70th win. He has kept them all, as living,
loving memories of her.

“I had visions of maybe coming home and seeing a pennant for the 100th win,’
he said. “When I came home, my sister, Mary, had sent balloons and a basket of
food. The neighbors also did some very {nice] things to celebrate the
occasion.’

In the afterlife, there are two people who are looking down upon and smiling
at the thought of No. 100. They are part of the community. Of that, there is no
debate whatsoever.

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At first it was something the Lower Merion boys’ soccer team didn’t talk  about, Will Rosenbaum said.

The junior goalkeeper and his teammates didn’t want to hear about the shutout  streak from fans and classmates, afraid that discussing it could be bad luck.

Now, the Aces just laugh and joke about the possibility of breaking a record  for consecutive shutouts in a season, Rosenbaum added. They also keep extending  the streak, defeating Central Bucks West, 3-0, in Saturday’s nonleague contest  at Lower Merion.

“I think we understand that we are going to get scored on eventually,”  Rosenbaum said. “We don’t really play with pressure on our shoulders because we  know it is going to happen.”

The game against the Bucks (7-4-1) was the 12th straight in which the Aces  (12-0) have kept their opponent scoreless. They have outscored opponents, 31-0,  during that stretch.

The state record for shutouts in a season is 22, set by District 11’s Freedom  High School in 1985.

“We really want to stress that we are taking it one game at a time,” senior  David Baer said. “We don’t want to look too far ahead and see what we might be  able to do.”

The prospect of going an entire season without being scored upon might be  fodder for joking now, but the Lower Merion defense hasn’t let up, continuing to  play like a unit possessed.

“It’s a lot of fun directing them, I’ll tell you that,” Rosenbaum said of his  backline. “We’ve got the perfect combination of height and speed. Our outside  backs are very quick. They are always there to cover.”

The offense hasn’t been too shabby, either.

Led by senior Francisco Palma, a dynamic forward who scored twice against the  Bucks off direct kicks, the Aces move the ball well, creating many scoring  chances.

Baer was adamant that the only current streak the Aces care about is  continuing to win against Central League opponents.

As for that other streak, the one of scoreless soccer, it stands at a little  more than 970 minutes.

Central Bucks West 0  0  –  0

Lower Merion 1  2  –  3

Goals: LM-Francisco Palma 2, David Baer.

Saves: CBW-Pat O’Brien 3; LM-Will Rosenbaum
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/high_school/20131006_Lower_Merion_s_shutout_express_rolls_on.html#jTyyhZUVcpS8FVlX.99

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