LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (4-4-1, 1-0-1) vs.
MIDWESTERN STATE (9-1, 1-0)
Saturday, Oct. 16 – 7 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian and Midwestern State meet at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex, coming into the matchup as two of the only three teams left undefeated in LSC play
• This is the fourth time this season the Chaps have faced a team ranked in the United Soccer Coaches top-25. Their most recent was against No. 8 WT, which they won 3-0 on Oct. 9
• Lubbock Christian is allowing an average of just 1.44 goals per game and has shut out three opponents so far this year. The goals against average ranks fourth in the LSC
• Midwestern State has the top offense in the Lone Star Conference with an average of 3.29 goals, 15.40 shots and 6.90 shots on goal per game
• The Chaparrals have recorded 10 assists on their 15 goals this season, led by three from Fernando Flores, who now has 13 in his LCU career
• Admission is free for both the Lady Chap and Chaparral soccer games on Saturday

 
LUCK OF THE DRAW
On Wednesday, Lubbock Christian played its first road contest of the conference portion of the season, fighting to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes at Oklahoma Christian. The scoring for both teams came early in the game, with the both goals coming in the first seven minutes of play, but neither team was able to find the back of the net again. LCU was not without its chances though, hitting the post twice and putting another six shots on goal throughout the game. The draw was their first since Nov. 2, 2019.
 
BALANCED ATTACK
Tomas Casas scored the lone goal for the Chaparrals in their tie against OC and in doing so became the 13^th different player to score a goal this season for Lubbock Christian. Only three players have scored multiple goals, led by Luciano Rodriguez with three. Flores and Luca Hollenstein have scored two each as well, and Hector Rodriguez-Cabo actually leads the team in shots on goal (10), but has scored just once. Niklas Neumann and Juan Jose Valdez Lopez have the most shots (three) of any LCU players who have not yet scored.
 
ON THE MARK
Although they enter Saturday's matchup with the second-fewest shots in the Lone Star Conference at 93, the Chaps have been very efficient with their chances. Of the 93 shots, 54.8 percent of them have been on goal – a good enough percentage that LCU is fourth in the league in shots on goal per game with a mark of 5.67. Rodriguez-Cabo's 10 shots on goal lead the team, but another nine players have at least two. There are still a lot of games left to be played, but the .574 shots on goal percentage would be the highest by the Chaps under Gilbert.
 
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNE
Lubbock Christian's goals against average of 1.44 (fourth-best in the conference) has come about due to an impressive back line, led by captain Ivan Muanze-Bengono and Hollenstein, who leads the team in minutes played. But behind them, Braxton Thorne is turning in yet another impressive season as the LCU goalkeeper. The Lubbock native's save percentage of .774 is the second-best in the LSC, as is his goals against average of .955. He now has 199 saves in his career and an all-time goals against average of 1.30.
 
LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
The Chaparrals and Mustangs faced off in non-conference play just 17 days ago, meeting at Stang Park in Wichita Falls. Then-No. 12 Midwestern State came away with the win and the shutout by a score of 3-0. The teams played a scoreless first half, but MSU quickly took the lead in the second half with goals in the 50^th and 51^st minute, adding the final score at the 70:38 mark. Kevin Mejias and Jeremy Chua had shot attempts for the Chaps in the loss, and Thorne made a pair of saves.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
Earlier this week, Lubbock Christian players were named as two of the three winners of the Lone Star Conference weekly award winners, and it was the same two players who earned awards earlier this year. Defensive Player of the week and Braxton Thorne the Goalkeeper of the Week for games played Oct. 6-11. The two players earned the same awards on Sept. 14, but that is the only other time this season LCU players have been recognized.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS

• MSU's Trevor Amann is the Lone Star Conference leader in points per game at 2.00. He has scored nine goals and assisted two others for 20 total points through the first 10 games
• Although his goals against average of .983 is third-best in the league, Mustang keeper Marc-Antoine Huzen's save percentage of .714 only ranks sixth among the nine LSC goalkeepers
• Besides Amann, another five Midwestern State players have scored at least three goals this season, giving them their league-leading average of 3.29 goals per game
• MSU has a history of men's soccer success, finishing either first or second in the conference and as conference tournament champions or runners-up in each of the last five seasons
• The Mustangs have three wins this season over teams ranked in the top 25. Their only loss was at home against West Texas A&M, who was ranked No. 5 at the time

A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD:

• Be the 96th win in program history (95-79-22)
• Be the 37th win in head coach Paul Gilbert's career (36-45-10)
• Be the Chaps' first win ever over Midwestern State since the series began in 2014 (0-6-2)