WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (3-0-1, 0-0-0) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (2-1-0, 0-0-0)
Thursday Sept. 13, 2018 – 4:30 p.m.
LCU Soccer Field (Lubbock, Texas)
LCU Twitter: @LCUChaps, @LCUMensSoccer
WTAMU Twitter: @wtathletics
CHAPS FLIGHT DECK
- Lubbock Christian University will look to keep their current pace Thursday afternoon in their Heartland Conference opening match against West Texas A&M University. The Chaparrals are currently riding a two-game win streak where they have shutout each opponent while combining for nine goals.
- While this is technically their second "home game" of the 2018 season, Thursday's match against the Buffs will mark their first time playing on LCU Soccer Field. In their most recent match against Southern Nazarene University, the Chaps were forced to move to Frenship High School Soccer Stadium due to inclement weather conditions.
- The Chap offense is being led by a pair of freshmen,
Tariq Bakkali and
Cade Von Heimburg, who have each registered three goals to open up the season.
STORY LINES
- Since 2013, LCU has compiled a 3-2-0 record in Heartland Conference openers.
- Lubbock Christian's defense has held strong throughout the non-conference schedule only allowing one goal.
- Freshman
Braxton Thorne is working to extend a 180-minute shutout sequence that has led to a pair of consecutive clean sheets.
- The Chaparrals have thrown punches in bunches throughout their first three contests logging 10 goals for an average of 3.3 goals per game.
- LCU's squad has recorded a .425 shots-on-goal clip while limiting opponents to 12 shots on target.
SCOUTING WTAMU
- West Texas A&M makes their way to the Lubbock Christian campus with a 3-0-1 record. Since a 1-1 draw against No. 21 Colorado Mesa University to kick off their season, the Buffs have since gone on to win three consecutive contests.
- WTAMU has allowed two goals in their first four matches and one since beginning their win streak.
- Julio Vargas has jumped out front for the West Texas A&M attack collecting six of the Buffs 17 goals with a pair of hat trick performances.
- Colin Burgiel has proven the starting keeper for the WTAMU defense logging four appearances and three starts while putting together a .800 save percentage.
- All together, the West Texas A&M defensive unit has allowed nine shots on goal for the season.
SERIES HISTORY WITH WTAMU
West Texas A&M holds a 5-2-0 record over the Chaparrals since the squads first met in the 2013 season. LCU's last win over the Buff squad came in a 3-2 road result in Canyon, Texas (Nov. 2, 2015). A win against WTAMU on Thursday would mark the first home-win against the Buffs in program history for the Chaps.
