LUBBOCK, Texas (October 27, 2021) – Controlling the ball almost the entire game and finally breaking through for a goal in the 76^th minute, the Lubbock Christian University men's soccer team beat Texas A&M-International 1-0 on Wednesday at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex.
 
The game-winner came in in the 76^th minute of action in a game that saw the Chaps lead 18-3 in shots and 5-1 in shots on goal. Ivan Muanze-Bengono took the ball away from a Dustdevil player right at midfield and passed ahead to Hector Rodriguez-Cabo. He turned inside before playing a through ball to Tariq Bakkali, who raced ahead with a defender on his hip, striking the ball with his left foot and finding the back of the net in the upper left corner of the goal.
 
LCU is now 6-5-1 on the season, moving above the .500 mark for the first time all year with their second-straight win. They are also 3-2-1 in Lone Star Conference play, currently sitting in fourth in the league standings, although the team in third – West Texas A&M – has played one more game than the Chaps.
 
Lubbock Christian's lack of scoring earlier in the game was certainly not for a lack of trying. Arguably one of their best chances for a goal came in just the seventh minute, as Luciano Rodriguez got the ball out wide and sent in a great cross. Rodriguez-Cabo was on the receiving end of the pass and headed it on frame with pace, but TAMIU goalkeeper Natxo Faus got one hand on it and the ball glanced off the crossbar.
 
The Chaps had five more shot in the opening half and were called for offsides five times, but did not have another shot on goal before the break
 
Shots from Lubbock Christian became even more frequent in the second half, when they took 12 total. Jacopo Ghezzi had an attempt saved in the 57^th minute, and Rodriguez had another stopped in the 66^th minute before Bakkali broke through 10 minutes later.
 
LCU had one more shot on goal on the night, as Juan Jose Valdez Lopez tried to double the lead just one minute after Bakkali's goal, but Faus made his fourth and final save.
 
Defensively, the Chaparrals allowed just three shots and only one of those was on frame. The single shot on goal from the Dustdevils came with under 10 minutes to play, as they earned a corner kick. The cross was sent in and bounced off one head before Gabriel Gacovicaj headed it on frame, but Braxton Thorne reacted quickly and pushed it out wide.
 
It was the second-straight game that LCU's defense has allowed just one shot on goal, and the three shots allowed are tied for their fewest on the year. They now have six shutouts, which is their most since 2018, when they also had six, albeit in 19 total games, whereas the 2021 Chaps just finished their 12^th.
 
Lubbock Christian will now turn their attention to Saturday's road game at St. Mary's, who is currently second in the conference standings. The game against the Rattlers will kick off at 7 p.m. at Sigma Beta Chi field.