The Cumberland Valley varsity soccer team (Mechanicsburg, PA) will face Warwick (Lititz, PA) in a neutral playoff match today at 7 p.m. at Landis Field, Central Dauphin Middle School. This game is part of the 2024 PIAA Boys Soccer Championships – 4A Boys Championship tournament.

Warwick vs Cumberland Valley Soccer Match Info:

What: Pennsylvania High School Soccer
Who: Warwick vs Cumberland Valley
When: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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Game preview: Warwick vs Cumberland Valley

The Warwick (Lititz, PA) and Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg, PA) varsity soccer teams are set to face off in a neutral playoff match today at 7 p.m. This marks the third meeting between these two teams during the 2024-25 season, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as both teams look to solidify their position in the playoffs.

Team Overview

Warwick (24-25)

• Record: 20-5
• Conference: 9-2
• Home: 12-3
• Away: 7-2
• Neutral: 1-0
• Win %: .800
• Conference Win %: .818
• Goals For (GF): 54
• Goals Against (GA): 22

Warwick has had a solid season, with an impressive 20 wins against just 5 losses. The team’s strong performance at home (12-3) has helped them secure a high playoff position, and their balanced offensive and defensive efforts (54 goals for and 22 against) will be key as they face a tough opponent in Cumberland Valley.

Cumberland Valley (24-25)

• Record: 23-1-1
• Conference: 9-0-1
• Home: 13-0
• Away: 8-1-1
• Neutral: 2-0
• Win %: .940
• Conference Win %: .950
• Goals For (GF): 67
• Goals Against (GA): 9

Cumberland Valley enters the matchup with a dominant 23-1-1 record, including an unbeaten conference run (9-0-1). The team has been nearly perfect both at home (13-0) and on neutral ground (2-0). Their defense has been formidable, allowing just 9 goals all season, and their offense has been prolific with 67 goals scored. With an average of 2.7 goals per game, they are poised to be a tough challenge for Warwick.

Recent Head-to-Head Matchups

The two teams have met twice already this season, with Cumberland Valley emerging victorious in both encounters.

• 9/14/2024: Cumberland Valley 4, Warwick 1
  In their first meeting, Cumberland Valley defeated Warwick 4-1 on the road, showcasing their offensive firepower and solid defense.
• 11/2/2024: Cumberland Valley 2, Warwick 0
  The second matchup saw Cumberland Valley winning 2-0 at home, once again proving their dominance in both attack and defense.

Key Players to Watch

Warwick

• Connor Kirchner (6 goals)
  As the team’s leading scorer, Kirchner will be a key player for Warwick, needing to break through Cumberland Valley’s tough defense to give his team a fighting chance.

Cumberland Valley

• Cumberland Valley’s team has no standout scorer listed in the match preview, but their offensive strength comes from a balanced approach, averaging 2.7 goals per game. Their ability to attack from multiple angles will pose a significant challenge to Warwick’s defense.

Team Scoring Averages

• Warwick:
  • Goals per game: 2.2
  • Goals allowed per game: 1.0
  • Average points in a shootout: 4.0
• Cumberland Valley:
  • Goals per game: 2.7
  • Goals allowed per game: 1.4
  • No shootouts listed for Cumberland Valley

While Warwick averages slightly fewer goals per game (2.2), their defense has been strong, allowing only 1.0 goals per game. In contrast, Cumberland Valley boasts a higher offensive output (2.7 goals per game) but also has allowed 1.4 goals per game on average. This could suggest a more aggressive playing style from Cumberland Valley, while Warwick may lean more on a balanced strategy.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced off against some of the same opponents this season, with Cumberland Valley holding a perfect 4-0 record in these matchups, while Warwick has gone 3-1. Notably, both teams defeated Wilson and J.P. McCaskey, with Warwick suffering a loss to McCaskey on 9/26/2024. Cumberland Valley, however, emerged victorious in all such games, including a 3-1 win over Wilson on 10/29/2024.

Match Preview

With both teams in excellent form, this neutral playoff match promises to be a thrilling contest. Warwick will need to step up their offensive play and find ways to break through Cumberland Valley’s defense, which has been the strongest in the league. On the other hand, Cumberland Valley will look to continue their dominance, both offensively and defensively, and carry their momentum from the season into this crucial match.

The winner of this match will advance further into the playoffs, while the loser will see their season come to a close. This is a must-watch for soccer fans in Pennsylvania, as these two powerhouse teams battle for supremacy.

Final Thoughts

As the match begins in just a few hours, all eyes will be on the field to see which team can rise to the occasion. With both teams having proven themselves throughout the season, this neutral playoff match could be one of the most exciting and closely contested games of the year.