Soccer Game Preview: Hart vs. Loyola

The Hart Hawks will head out on the road to square off against the Loyola Cubs at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Hart's last five contests have been decided by no more than a goal, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.

Hart is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. While the 0-0 score might suggest a draw, it was Hart who was credited with the win. Hart got it done in the shootout by posting four goals to El Camino Real's two. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Hawks' disadvantage in MaxPreps' California soccer rankings (they are ranked 27th, while the Royals are ranked fifth).

Loyola took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. While the 2-2 score might suggest a draw, it was Loyola who was credited with the win. Loyola got it done in the shootout by posting three goals to Birmingham's two.

Loyola is on a roll lately: they've won 17 of their last 19 matches. That somehow still isn't as good as their 21-1 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they scored 54 goals over those 19 games. Hart's record now sits at 17-4.