Soccer Game Preview: Crystal Springs Uplands vs. Menlo School

Crystal Springs Uplands hasn't had much luck against Menlo School recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Crystal Springs Uplands Gryphons will venture away from home to take on the Menlo School Knights at 2:45 p.m. The two teams are strolling into their games after big wins in their previous games.

Crystal Springs Uplands will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any goals on Wednesday, then bounced right back against Pinewood on Friday. Crystal Springs Uplands' defense stepped up to hand Pinewood a 6-0 shutout. Given the Gryphons' advantage in MaxPreps' California soccer rankings (they are ranked 210th, while the Panthers are ranked 1168th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Crystal Springs Uplands' offense was hitting Pinewood from everywhere, as five different players booted in a goal. Tarik Baker led that balanced group of strikers and accounted for two goals all by himself.

Meanwhile, Menlo School entered their tilt with Harker on Friday with ten consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with 11. They blew past the Eagles 3-0. The Knights might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six contests by three goals or more this season.

Crystal Springs Uplands pushed their record up to 12-2-3 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they scored 17 goals over those five games. As for Menlo School, their win bumped their record up to 13-2-2.