The Bentley varsity soccer team from Lafayette, CA, will face off against Sonoma Academy from Santa Rosa, CA, in a neutral playoff match today at 4 p.m. at Sonoma Academy. This game is part of the “2024 NCS Boys Fall Soccer Championships – Division 2” tournament.

Sonoma Academy vs Bentley Soccer Match Info:

What: California High School Soccer
Who: Sonoma Academy vs Bentley
When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m.
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Match preview: Sonoma Academy vs Bentley

In the 2024-25 high school soccer season, Sonoma Academy and Bentley faced off in a highly anticipated matchup, both bringing impressive stats to the field. Here’s an in-depth look at the season metrics, scoring averages, team stats, and head-to-head comparisons.

Team Rankings and Records

Sonoma Academy has been dominant this season, boasting a stellar record of 20-1-2 and a league performance of 17-0-1, giving them a win percentage of 91.3% and a nearly perfect league win rate of 97.2%. Ranked 6th in California and 4th in their section, Sonoma Academy has outscored opponents with 108 goals for and only 10 goals against, highlighting a strong offensive and defensive unit.

On the other side, Bentley comes into the match with a solid 11-6-1 record and a ranking of 13th in California, placing them 10th in their section. Their league performance has been less consistent at 4-5-1, with a 63.9% win percentage overall. Bentley’s scoring is decent, netting 63 goals and conceding 32, with a greater challenge in league play, resulting in a league win rate of 45%.

Scoring Averages

Sonoma Academy’s offense has been particularly effective, scoring an average of 1.7 goals per half and maintaining a high-scoring final average of 4.7 goals per game. Bentley, though effective in the second half with a scoring average of 1.3 goals, starts slower, averaging only 0.3 goals in the first half and a final average of 3.5 goals per game.

Key Team Stat Comparisons

In terms of raw stats, Sonoma Academy outshines Bentley in both goal-scoring and defensive numbers:

• Goals: Sonoma Academy has scored 101 goals this season compared to Bentley’s 63.
• Assists: The assists follow a similar pattern, with Sonoma at 84 and Bentley at 52.
• Steals: Bentley, however, shows defensive prowess with 78 steals, hinting at a more aggressive midfield play style.

Sonoma’s defensive efficiency is underscored by a minuscule Goals Against Average (GAA) of 0.263, while Bentley lacks a comparable stat, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in goal.

Standout Players

For Sonoma Academy, Kellen Kramer leads the team with an impressive 37 goals and 12 assists, making him a crucial player in both scoring and playmaking. Bentley’s top scorer is Nico Westen with 13 goals, while Chase Rose contributes 9 assists. Bentley’s Tristan Kennedy shines in attempts with 77 shots, showing a high level of persistence and threat in the offensive third.

Common Opponents and Record Breakdown

Both teams faced several common opponents, including Athenian, College Prep, Head-Royce, and Calistoga, with Sonoma Academy holding a slight edge in head-to-head comparisons. Sonoma went 3-1-1 against common opponents, while Bentley trailed slightly with a 3-4 record.

A significant point of contrast comes from their matches against Athenian: Sonoma Academy held them to a 1-1 tie on August 28, while Bentley suffered two losses (4-2 and 1-0). Bentley did show resilience against College Prep and Calistoga, securing wins in their later encounters.

Record Breakdown at a Glance

In summary, while both Sonoma Academy and Bentley bring unique strengths to the table, Sonoma’s remarkable consistency, particularly in league play, and their strong defensive numbers have set them apart as the team to beat this season. Bentley, with solid performances from players like Nico Westen and Chase Rose, will need to capitalize on every opportunity and refine their defensive strategy to compete against Sonoma Academy’s balanced and disciplined squad.