OKLAHOMA CITY (October 13, 2021) – In a game that looked as though it would feature a lot of offense early on, it was the defenses that stepped up as Lubbock Christian University and Oklahoma Christian played 110 minutes to a 1-1 tie on Wednesday at Eagle Soccer Field.
 
Both goals in the match occurred in the first seven minutes of play and then the Chaps (4-4-1, 1-0-1) and Eagles (1-5-3, 0-1-1) went the next 103:06 without another score. It is the first tie for LCU since Nov. 2, 2019, when they also finished 1-1 against No. 5 St. Mary's.
 
The scoring started fast, with the Chaparrals converting on their first shot on goal. The culprit was Tomas Casas, scoring the first goal of his LCU career and collecting points number two and three.
 
Less than a minute later though, the game was even again as John Osadolor Ighede netted a goal for the Eagles, also scoring on their first shot on goal.
 
Neither team would find the back of the net for the rest of the game, though not for lack of trying. The Chaps had six more shots on goal and the Eagles had another four, but neither team could break through.
 
One of LCU's chances to pull ahead came in just the 14^th minute, as Tariq Bakkali had a shot go off the left post. Then in the 20^th minute, Hector Rodriguez-Cabo put another shot on goal that was saved.
 
LCU's last chance of the first half came from Ivan Muanze-Bengono in the 38^th minute, when he put a shot on goal that was cleared out by an OC defender. Oklahoma Christian did not have another shot on goal before the break.
 
Bakkali tried to give the Chaps a lead early in the second half, with a shot on goal that was saved at the 51:44 mark, and Casas just missed out on a brace with a shot off the post in the 52^nd minute.
 
The Eagle offense was in better form during the second half, and Ighede also very nearly had a two-goal game that was stopped by the right post. OC had a flurry of chances in the 64^th, 67^th and 68^th minutes, but all three of the shots on goal were saved by Braxton Thorne.
 
Lubbock Christian's best chance to take the lead in the match came in the 69^th minute, when Alexander Picoto Rodrigues was called for a foul in the box. Fernando Flores took the penalty kick, but OC goalkeeper Anthony Trabichet stepped up huge and saved the shot. Trabichet also saved a PK attempt in LCU's 2-0 win over OC on Sept. 22.
 
Things got a little tougher for the Chaps in the 81^st minute when Jacopo Ghezzi was sent off for a red card, but the LCU defense kept the game scoreless through the end of regulation.
 
Oklahoma Christian had the only shot on goal of the first overtime period, but it was saved by Thorne and the Eagles' only other shot missed high.
 
Jonathan Woods had a shot on goal in the second overtime saved, and all three shots by the Eagles were off target, ending the game in a draw.
 
Lubbock Christian will return home now, hosting No. 8 Midwestern State at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex.