Soccer Game Preview: Hayes vs. Bexley

The Hayes Pacers will face off against the Bexley Lions at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

The home team had won the previous five meetings between Hayes and Dublin Scioto, and Dublin Scioto kept the tradition alive. The Pacers fell just short of the Irish by a score of 3-2 on Thursday. While losing is never fun, Hayes can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Ohio soccer rankings (they are ranked 179th, while Dublin Scioto are ranked 18th).

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Bexley). Their defense stepped up to hand Franklin Heights an 11-0 shutout on Saturday. The result was nothing new for Bexley, who have now won seven matchups by four goals or more so far this season.

Bexley's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-2-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only given up two goals over those six contests. As for Hayes, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-7-1.

Hayes came out on top in a nail-biter against Bexley in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, sneaking past 1-0. Will the Pacers repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.