The Point Arena (CA) varsity soccer team will play a neutral playoff match against San Francisco Waldorf (San Francisco, CA) today at 5:30 p.m. at Kezar Stadium. This game is part of the “2024 NCS Boys Fall Soccer Championships – Division 3” tournament.

San Francisco Waldorf vs Point Arena Soccer Match Info:

What: California High School Soccer
Who: San Francisco Waldorf vs Point Arena
When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m.
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Match preview: San Francisco Waldorf vs Point Arena

The recent high school soccer matchup between San Francisco Waldorf and Point Arena featured two teams with distinct records, rankings, and strengths, creating an engaging and competitive contest. Here, we break down their season statistics, performances, and common opponents to provide a comprehensive look at their matchup.

Rankings and Records Overview

San Francisco Waldorf entered the season with a .500 win percentage, boasting a 7-7-3 overall record. With a ranking of 1,641 nationally and 21st in California, Waldorf’s season was marked by solid in-state play but a weaker league performance at just 1-6-3, demonstrating challenges in division matchups. Their offensive and defensive record included 40 goals for and 43 goals against, indicating a closely matched game average.

On the other hand, Point Arena showed a stronger performance, with an impressive 13-7-1 record and a .643 overall win percentage. Ranking 2,068 nationally and 27th in California, Point Arena outperformed in league play with an 11-6-1 record, establishing a much higher league win rate at .639. They scored 48 goals this season while conceding only 30, revealing both a stronger attack and tighter defense than Waldorf.

Team Scoring and Stat Comparison

When comparing scoring averages, Point Arena has a slight edge in first-half goals with an average of 1.0, compared to Waldorf’s 0.5. However, Waldorf improves in the second half, averaging 0.9 goals, leading to an average of 2.4 goals per game, marginally outpacing Point Arena’s 2.3 goals per game.

A breakdown of team stats reveals:

• Goals: Waldorf scored 20 goals, while Point Arena outscored them with 22.
• Assists: Point Arena held an advantage with nine assists, while Waldorf did not record any.
• Shots: Waldorf showed a higher shooting rate with three shots per game compared to Point Arena’s one, but Point Arena’s accuracy led to better scoring efficiency.

Key Players and Team Leaders

For Waldorf, Finian Hudgens (#11) led in goals with six for the season and took two shots per game, providing crucial offensive power. Emiliano Martinez-Ortiz (#12) anchored the team’s defense with a notable goals-against average, playing a key role in their back line.

Point Arena was powered by Fernando Lopez (#5), who led the team with 11 goals and five assists. His combined goal and assist tally significantly boosted Point Arena’s attack, supported by Carlos Coria (#16), who also contributed offensively with one shot on goal per game.

Common Opponents

Both teams played against common opponents, such as Jewish Community and Tomales, with varying results:

• Against Jewish Community, San Francisco Waldorf managed two draws (0-0) while Point Arena secured a victory (1-0).
• When facing Tomales, Waldorf took a 3-1 victory, while Point Arena faced two losses (2-1).

These results suggest that Waldorf had an edge in handling shared competition, particularly with their 3-1 win over Tomales—a team that Point Arena struggled against.

Home vs. Away Performance

Waldorf’s home record stood at 3-3-1, showing strength on their turf, while they were slightly less successful on the road (3-4-2). Point Arena, however, excelled in home games with an 8-1-1 record, making them a formidable team on familiar ground. Their away record of 4-6 demonstrates challenges in adapting to opponents’ home fields, an area Waldorf could exploit if the match took place outside Point Arena’s home stadium.

Playoff and In-State Records

Both teams matched each other in playoff performance with undefeated records of 2-0, showing resilience in high-stakes matches. When considering in-state competition, Waldorf and Point Arena held closely similar records, with Waldorf slightly trailing at 7-7-3 compared to Point Arena’s 12-7-1.

Conclusion

The matchup between San Francisco Waldorf and Point Arena brought out the competitive spirit of both teams, with each side showcasing unique strengths. Waldorf’s resilience and experience against common opponents, coupled with their balanced scoring across halves, kept them a challenging opponent. Point Arena’s overall stronger record, higher scoring efficiency, and outstanding league performance showcased a team prepared to leverage its strengths and capitalize on opportunities.

The game reflected two evenly matched high school teams, each with key players leading their sides in offensive and defensive roles. Both teams’ playoff potential and strong performance against familiar opponents set the stage for an exciting rematch, should they meet again in future competitions.