Soccer Game Preview: Olympia vs. Illinois Valley Central

Olympia is on a four-game streak of home losses, and Illinois Valley Central a five-game streak of away losses. However, someone's due for a change in luck on Thursday. The Olympia Spartans will be playing in front of their home fans against the Illinois Valley Central Grey Ghosts at 4:30 p.m. Considering both teams were shutout in their prior games, the pair is probably coming into this one with something to prove.

Saturday just wasn't the day for Olympia's offense. They lost 5-0 to Bloomington Central Catholic on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Illinois Valley Central also failed to score in their most recent game. They came up short against Orion/Sherrard on Tuesday, falling 6-0. While losing is never fun, Illinois Valley Central can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois soccer rankings (they are ranked 355th, while Orion/Sherrard are ranked 59th).

Illinois Valley Central's loss dropped their record down to 0-11. As for Olympia, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-7-1.

Everything went Olympia's way against Illinois Valley Central in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Olympia made off with a 5-1 victory. Do the Spartans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Grey Ghosts turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.