Lower Merion’s shutout express rolls on

Kate Harman, For The Inquirer

Posted: Sunday, October 6, 2013, 2:02 AM

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