DENTON, Texas (October 23, 2021) – Texas Woman's pushed for two early goals and used strong defense late as the Lubbock Christian University women's soccer team fell 2-1 on Saturday at Pioneer Soccer Park.
 
The Lady Chaps drop to 7-4-2 overall with the loss and are now 4-4-1 in Lone Star Conference play, while the Pioneers improved to 11-2-2 and 8-2-0 in the league.
 
Freshman Megan Mirabal started the game in goal for LCU, making her sixth start of the year, and she was tested early. TWU put its first shot on goal in the eighth minute, earned a corner kick in the ninth minute, and had another shot miss high in the 12^th minute.
 
At the 13:01 mark, Makenna Pate attempted the first Lubbock Christian shot, but it missed high as well. Texas Womans responded by earning another two corner kicks and missing wide with another shot. At the 18^th minute though, they broke through. A corner kick was played short and Keeley Chapman struck from outside the 18-yard box, hitting in the upper right corner of the goal.
 
The lead doubled in the 29^th minute after a ball shot by Alyssa Simien ricocheted off a defender and into the goal. TWU continued to apply pressure and had one more shot on goal before the half, but Mirabal made the save.
 
Lubbock Christian did cut into the lead literally seconds before halftime, thanks to forward Casie Watson. Playing in just her sixth game this season, the Burleson native took advantage of a mishit by the Pioneer goalkeeper, settling the bouncing ball and driving it into the back of the net just before the buzzer sounded for the break. It was the first collegiate goal for Watson, who became the 10^th different Lady Chap to score this season and also played a career-high 21 minutes in the match.
 
The last-second goal gave the Lady Chaps some momentum in the second half, and they controlled the pace for much of the final period but were never able to get an equalizer. Only four shots were taken by the two teams combined over the last 45 minutes and none of them were on goal.
 
Arely Jimenez had a chance in the 53^rd minute but missed high, and other times Lubbock Christian was building to a scoring opportunity, the Pioneer back line was able to clear the ball just in time.
 
Lubbock Christian will be on the road again on Wednesday, as they travel to Wichita Falls, Texas to take on Midwestern State.