The Missouri Military Academy (Mexico, MO) varsity soccer team will play a neutral playoff match against St. Pius X (Kansas City, MO) today at 12:30 PM in the MSHSAA State Final Four at Lindenwood St. Charles. This game is part of the “2024 Missouri High School Boys Soccer Playoff Brackets: MSHSAA – Class 1” tournament.

Missouri Military Academy vs St. Pius X Game Info:

What: Missouri High School Soccer Playoffs
Who: Missouri Military Academy vs St. Pius X
When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 Missouri High School Boys Soccer Playoff Brackets: MSHSAA – Class 1
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Game preview: Missouri Military Academy vs St. Pius X

As the 2024-2025 sports season progresses, two teams from Missouri have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike—St. Pius X and Missouri Military Academy. With strong performances across various metrics, these teams are showcasing their impressive abilities. Let’s break down their key statistics and how they compare in the national and state rankings, as well as their respective records.

Overall Team Performance

• St. Pius X boasts a solid overall record of 15 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie (15-8-1). Their performance at home has been particularly strong, with a 6-1 record, while they hold a competitive 7-5-1 record in away games. The team also played 2 neutral-site games, splitting them 1-1, resulting in a winning percentage of .646. With 87 goals scored and 39 goals conceded, St. Pius X’s goal differential of +48 reflects their ability to outscore opponents.
• Missouri Military Academy, on the other hand, holds an impressive 16-4 overall record. Their record in district play is perfect at 3-0, and they have also performed well on the road (6-2) and at neutral sites (4-2). Missouri Military Academy boasts a high winning percentage of .800, with a near-perfect district record of 1.000. The team scored 83 goals while allowing just 26, which contributes to a significantly better goal differential than St. Pius X.

Scoring Averages

• St. Pius X averages 2.7 goals per game, with a notably strong finish in overtime, where they average 0.5 goals in overtime periods. In total, they score an average of 3.6 goals per game across all situations, showing that they can perform well in both regulation time and extended play.
• Missouri Military Academy, however, has been slightly more prolific, averaging 2.1 goals in regulation and 2.1 goals in overtime, leading to an overall average of 4.2 goals per game—just under one more goal than St. Pius X. This highlights their ability to dominate offensively.

Key Team Stats

• Goals Scored: Missouri Military Academy has the edge with 83 goals, compared to St. Pius X’s 87. However, St. Pius X has played more games, so their total goals per game average is slightly lower.
• Assists: In terms of playmaking, St. Pius X is led by Alexander McBride with 9 assists. Missouri Military Academy’s top assist leader has 3 assists.
• Shots: St. Pius X has been more aggressive in terms of shot attempts, recording 432 shots, which shows a more offensive-oriented approach. Missouri Military Academy’s offensive efforts are slightly less potent in terms of volume but highly effective.
• Steals: Defensively, St. Pius X’s Eric Shellabarger leads with 88 steals. Missouri Military Academy’s defense, however, is a standout, with an impressive 571 steals across the season, highlighting their defensive dominance.

Goalkeeping

• St. Pius X is anchored by goalkeeper Gihana Favour Nziza, who boasts a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.275, a solid mark indicating strong performance between the posts.
• Missouri Military Academy also has a formidable goalie, with a GAA of 2.260. While slightly higher than St. Pius X’s, this number is still respectable given their strong overall defense.

Record Breakdown by Location

• St. Pius X has performed well at home (6-1) and on the road (7-5-1), with their neutral site games yielding a balanced 2-2 record.
• Missouri Military Academy excels on the road, with a perfect 6-0 record at home. Their record in neutral-site games is also strong at 4-2, further underscoring their consistency across all environments.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Both teams are yet to face off directly in 2024-2025, with their common opponents and upcoming matchups adding intrigue to any potential clash. Their current records make any future meeting highly anticipated, with both teams having clear strengths in both offense and defense.

Conclusion

As the season unfolds, both St. Pius X and Missouri Military Academy are making significant impacts in their respective leagues and state rankings. St. Pius X leads in offensive scoring, but Missouri Military Academy has showcased a more balanced, dominant approach with a better defensive record. The competition is fierce, and both teams will likely play pivotal roles in Missouri’s athletic landscape this season.