Men's Soccer | 10.26.2021

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (5-5-1, 2-1-1) vs.
TEXAS A&M-INTERNATIONAL (5-8-1, 2-3-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 27 – 7 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• After a win at UT Tyler on Saturday, Lubbock Christian returns home to host Texas A&M-International at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex on Wednesday
• The Chaps have the fourth fewest fouls per game in the league at 12.55, including a season-low seven in Saturday's game against the Patriots
• Lubbock Christian's goals against average of 1.45 is the third-best in the conference, and their scoring average of 1.73 is the fourth-highest mark
• Dustdevil forward Kristian Colaci ranks second in the conference in total points with 24. He has scored 11 goals on 24 shots on goal while also notching two assists
• The Chaparrals have recorded 13 assists on their 19 goals this season, led by three from Fernando Flores, who now has 13 in his LCU career

 
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
Lubbock Christian's most recent win over UT Tyler also provided they're best offensive showing of the 2021 season. The Chaps scored four goals against the Patriots, three of which came in the first half, while setting another season-high with 22 shots. The four goals were their most since Nov. 2, 2019, when they beat West Texas A&M 4-1 in Lubbock. Kevin Mejias had two of the goals, becoming just the second Chap this season to score twice in one game. Pablo Galietero Diez had another, which was the game-winner, and Jonathan Woods scored early in the second half to become the 12^th different LCU player with a goal this season. The Chaps are now averaging 1.727 goals on 11.5 shots per game, and 48 percent of their shots have been on goal.
 
LEAGUE LOOK-IN
With just four games left in the regular season, the Chaps are currently in good shape ton end up in the postseason. The top six teams by points will make the Lone Star Conference Tournament. LCU currently sits in fourth, and they have played one less game than current third-place team West Texas A&M. Three of the four teams left on the schedule are below the Chaps in the standings right now, and the only team left above them is St. Mary's, who is tied for first with a 4-0 league record. Midwestern State is also a perfect 4-0 in LSC play.
 
SHUTOUT CENTRAL
Saturday's win over UT Tyler also marked the fifth shutout of the season for the Chaps, which is their most in a single season since 2018, when they also had five. The Patriots were held to just eight total shots, with only one on goal. For the season, Lubbock Christian is allowing an average of 1.45 goals on 11.6 shots per game. Opponents have taken 128 total shots with only 34.4 percent (48) of those on goal. Luca Hollenstein has played the most minutes of anyone on the back line and has twice claimed LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors this year.
 
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Of the 19 goals scored by the Chaps so far this year, eight have come from players who were not on the roster a season ago. Tied for the team lead in goals scored are Mejias and Luciano Rodriguez, both of whom are freshmen. Both players have an assist each as well, and they are tied for the team lead in points along with Fernando Flores. Another freshman, Tomas Casas, is the team leader in minutes played with 921 and fellow midfielder Jacopo Ghezzi has started 10 of LCU's 11 games this season. Both players have a goal, and Casas has a pair of assists.
 
HE'S A KEEPER
Besides the stellar play of the back line, Lubbock Christian's defense has been helped immensely by the play of Braxton Thorne in goal. A fourth-year starter for the Chaps, Thorne has a goals against average this season of 1.071, which is the third-best mark in the conference. His save percentage of .714 also ranks in the top half of the league. Thorne was only forced to make on save on Saturday against UT Tyler, but it was an important one as the 200^th of his collegiate career. He is 5-3-1 in goal this year and 26-18-3 all-time.
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
Even with a pair of cancellations early in the season, Lubbock Christian has played five home games this season with a 3-2-0 record there, including wins over CSU-Pueblo, Oklahoma Christian and West Texas A&M. The Chaps are averaging 1.60 goals on 12.2 shots per game, with 52.5 percent of their shots on goal. This is the second season for LCU to play at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex, which was completed in 2020 and features an AstroTurf playing surface, a Musco lighting system to allow for night games and stadium seating for 500 fans. All-time, LCU is 47-30-11 in home games, including an 21-15-4 home record under head coach Paul Gilbert.
 
SCOUTING THE DUSTDEVILS

• Texas A&M-International has lost three of their last four games, with the only win coming against Oklahoma Christian on Oct. 20 by a score of 3-0
• Natxo Faus and Nils van der Landen have split goalkeeping duties almost evenly with 653 minutes for the former and 623 for the latter
• Besides Colaci's 11 goals, only five other Dustdevils have scored this season, including four goals from Johan Portales and three from Gabriel Gacoviacaj
• Claudio Arias is in his 17^th season as the head men's soccer coach at TAMIU, posting a 145-25-25 record in his time there
• The Dustdevils' goals against average for the season is 1.71, which is the third-worst mark in the conference, behind only UT Permian Basin (2.21) and West Texas A&M (1.77)

 
A WIN ON WEDNESDAY WOULD:

• Be the 97^th win in program history (96-80-22)
• Be the 38^th win in head coach Paul Gilbert's career (37-46-10)
• Be the fifth win over Texas A&M-International since the all-time series began in 2013 (4-4-0)