Soccer Game Preview: Lamar vs. Starkville Academy

The Lamar Raiders will face off against the Starkville Academy Volunteers at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Lamar is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 3.2 goals per game this season.

Lamar is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Heritage Academy just ended the team's eight-game winning streak on Tuesday. While the 2-2 score might suggest a draw, it was the Patriots who were credited with the victory. Heritage Academy got it done in the shootout by posting three goals to Lamar's two. One reason for the loss might be the Raiders' aggressive play style: Logan Cross and Emmanuel Donkor were both handed yellow cards.

Austin Wichman and Blake Harris scored both of Lamar's goals, bringing their combined season tally to 18 goals.

Starkville Academy is headed in fresh off scoring the most goals they have all season. They never let Bayou Academy onto the board and left with a 5-0 win on Friday. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Volunteers considering their one-goal performance the contest before.

Lamar's defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 11-3. As for Starkville Academy, the victory got them back to even at 4-4.

Lamar came up short against Starkville Academy in their previous meeting back in January of 2024, falling 2-0. Can Lamar avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.