Soccer Game Preview: Lodi vs. Linden

The Lodi Flames will take on the Linden Lions in a holiday battle at at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this match.

Last Tuesday, Lodi came up short against Turlock and fell 4-2. While losing is never fun, the Flames can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California soccer rankings (they are ranked 522nd, while the Bulldogs are ranked 250th).

Meanwhile, Linden's game last Tuesday was all tied up 0-0 at the half, but sadly for them it didn't stay that way. They took a 3-1 hit to the loss column at the hands of Weston Ranch. The defeat continues a trend for the Lions in their matchups with the Cougars: they've now lost five in a row.

Linden's goal came courtesy of Antonio Garcia, who's now up to two this season.

Lodi's loss dropped their record down to 1-3-2. As for Linden, their defeat dropped their record down to an identical 1-3-2.