HEART WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIIONSHIP



May 16, 2009 - A season that began with their two-a-day-camp-week in the first week of August and continued with week-in-and-week-out training through the year saw the Lower Merion Heart capture the PA state cup for the second consecutive year. Drawn into what was clearly the u14 draw’s “group of death,” the Heart was challenged from the beginning with a first round game against Montgomery, creating a rematch of last year’s state cup final. Lower Merion set the tone for their defense of the state cup with a convincing 4-0 win against last year’s state cup finalist. The Heart continued their winning ways allowing no goals for the entire state cup tournament and beating its opponents by a combined score of 16-0.

The state cup defense embodied a solid team effort, relying not only on the back four and keeper to register four clean slates but also on improving defense further up the field. Nine separate players registered goals in the state cup defense with goals coming from strikers, midfielders, and defenders in the four games. The state cup final against Hershey required 70 minutes of intense defense. Lower Merion struck net midway through the first half and entered half time with their 1-0 lead. The Heart pushed hard trying to open their lead with a strong attack in the early part of the second half, but the Hershey keeper was up to the task turning back five scoring opportunities to keep the score at 1-0. The 1-0 lead held up through the second half and earned the Lower Merion Heart a well deserved defense of its state cup crown.

The state cup capped a strong season with numerous accomplishments earning their place not only as the top team in the state but also as one of the top team’s in U.S.’s region one. Early in 2009, the Heart competed up a year in the u15 indoor state cup. There, the Heart earned a spot in the state cup final, falling just short of the championship in an overtime “golden goal” loss. Facing their stiffest competition of the year, the Heart was the first Lower Merion girls team ever to be accepted into the U.S. region one premier league, and the sole representative in the league from Pennsylvania. In this league comprised of the top 16 teams from West Virginia to Maine, the Heart compiled an impressive 5-1-1 record in regular league play to earn a spot in semi-finals where the team fell to a strong team from Massachusetts that ultimately captured the league championship.

Congratulations to all of the dedicated Lower Merion Heart players – Julianna Bradley, Elaine Byerly, Kayla Cunningham, Morgan Elliott, Carly Ichniowski, Sophie Katz, Anna Ludwick, Katelyn McKenna, Emily Morgan, Moira Petrie, Paige Phillips, Nanci Selig, Alex Srolis, Salina Williford, Martha Zeller and Mary Grace Zeller – for the dedication, progress throughout the year, and noteworthy accomplishments. The Heart will now go to represent Pennsylvania in this summer’s U.S. Region One Championship tournament.





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