Soccer Game Preview: Providence Christian vs. Pike Liberal Arts

The Providence Christian Eagles are taking a road trip to challenge the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Providence Christian has six straight victories, Pike Liberal Arts has seven straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the pitch.

Providence Christian had to skate by with only a one-goal margin when they last took the pitch, which might have inspired the ten-goal drubbing they dealt Highland Home on Thursday. Providence Christian's defense stepped up to hand Highland Home a 10-0 shutout. Providence Christian's defense has been rock solid lately; the team hasn't given up a goal in their last four games.

Their offense was hitting Highland Home from everywhere, as five different players booted in a goal. Will Nicholls led that balanced group of strikers and accounted for four goals all by himself.

Meanwhile, Tuesday just wasn't the day for Pike Liberal Arts' offense. They fell just short of Providence Christian by a score of 1-0 on Tuesday. While losing is never fun, Pike Liberal Arts can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Alabama soccer rankings (they are ranked 223rd, while Providence Christian are ranked 105th).

Providence Christian pushed their record up to 8-2-4 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they scored 25 goals over those four matchups. As for Pike Liberal Arts, their loss dropped their record down to 0-7.

Providence Christian beat Pike Liberal Arts by a goal in their previous matchup on Tuesday, winning 1-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Providence Christian since the team won't have the home-pitch advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.