Women's Soccer | 10.29.2021

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (7--52, 4-5-1) vs.
ST. EDWARD'S (7-6-1, 5-4-1)
Saturday, October 30  – 1 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian hosts its second-to-last home game of the 2021 season on Saturday, taking on St. Edward's, who lost on Wednesday against UT Tyler
•  The Lady Chaps were shut out on Wednesday at Midwestern State despite attempting nine shots with four on goal. They have 181 total shots this year, 70 of which are on goal
• St. Edward's allows an average of 1.53 goals per game, which ranks in the bottom half of the Lone Star Conference. They were shut out on Wednesday by the Patriots
• LCU has recorded 15 individual assists on their 18 goals scored this season. Their average of 1.077 assists per game ranks in the top half of the league
• Lubbock Christian goalkeepers Hannah Wise and Megan Mirabal have combined for a save percentage of .803 this season, which is the second-best mark in the conference

 
IN THE HUNT
Currently sitting in a tie for eighth place at 13 points in the Lone Star Conference standings, the Lady Chaps are still in the hunt for a spot in the postseason. LCU has a 4-5-1 league record is tied in the standings with Oklahoma Christian, who is 3-3-4 this year. Saturday's opponent – St. Edward's – is directly above them in seventh place currently, so a win over the Hilltoppers would do a lot to help LCU's postseason chances. The opponent in the Nov. 6 regular season finale – St. Mary's – is also currently ahead of LCU in sixth with a 5-3-2 league record and 17 points, making Lubbock Christian very much the masters of their own fate.
 
BACK LINE BALLERS
Although LCU lost on Wednesday, the defense still held Midwestern State to just one goal, keeping their goals against average for the season at 1.07. Lady Chap opponents have attempted an average of 12.6 shots per game and put less than 50 percent of those shots on goal. When those shots have been on goal, keepers Hannah Wise (869 minutes) and Megan Mirabal (430 minutes) have been there 61 saves on for a combined save percentage of .803. The Lady Chaps have collected five shutouts total on the year and have allowed just one goal in six other games.
 
MAINSTAYS
Three Lubbock Christian players have seen more than 1000 minutes of action this season. Arely Jimenez is the team leader in minutes played, starting in all 14 games and seeing exactly 1200 minutes of action. She has played the full 90 in three of the last four Lady Chap contests. Shadiana Haney (1129) and Kaylen McNatt (1083) are second and third on the team, respectively, although both players have missed one game this year. The only player besides Jimenez to have started in all 14 games is Julie Shahi, who has played 956 minutes.
 
FRESH FACES
A number of players in their first season of collegiate action have already been leaned on heavily by the Lady Chaps. Defender Avery Jennings leads the way, playing in 12 of the 14 games and leading all true freshman with 742 minutes played. She has one goal this season and two assists. Kenley Belvins also has a goal in two assists as a true freshman and has played in 13 games. Chloe Hinojosa has seen action in 12 games and Malena Watzlawik has played in 10. Madi Fuller played just once in the first month of the season, but the Liberty Hill, Texas, native has played six times in October, including a season-high 35 minutes against Texas Woman's.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS
Saturday's game is the second-to-last at home for the Lady Chaps this season. They will host one more game next Saturday against St. Mary's. LCU is 4-2-1 at home this season, averaging 1.43 goals on 15.0 shots per game. The LCU Soccer & Track Complex was completed in August of 2020 and features an AstroTurf playing surface, a Musco lighting system to allow for night games and stadium seating for 500 fans. The program is 56-24-12 all-time in home contests and has never had a losing record at home under head coach Alex Denning.
 
FAIR OR FOUL
In Lubbock Christian's Wednesday night matchup against Midwestern State, they were called for just three fouls, which is the lowest total in a game this season. LCU averages exactly 6.00 fouls per game this season, which is the lowest mark in the Lone Star Conference, ahead of St. Mary's at 6.40 fouls/game. They have also been shown just seven yellow cards, which is tied for the third-fewest in the league, and three of those came in the very first game of the season.
 
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS

• Although they only rank seventh in the LSC in fouls per game at 7.87, St. Edward's has been shown just one yellow card all season. All other league teams have been shown at least six
• The Hilltoppers have spread their offense around between many players, and 10 different individuals have found the back of the net. Katie Gay and Sarah Preston co-lead the team with five goals apiece
• Abby Carlson has handled nearly all of the goalkeeping duties for SEU, posting a goals against average of 1.11 and a save percentage of .786 in more than 1200 minutes of action
• St. Edward' has lost three straight games coming into the weekend, falling to West Texas A&M (3-2), Texas A&M-Commerce (2-0) and UT Tyler (1-0). Their last win was on Oct. 16 against UT Permian Basin (4-0)
• The Hilltoppers have two more tough matchups awaiting them after LCU taking on Angelo State (fourth in the LSC) on Nov. 2 and Texas Woman's (second in the league) on Nov. 6

 
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD:
• Be the 107th in Lubbock Christian program history (106-79-20)
• Be the 93rd under head coach Alex Denning (92-62-16)
• Be the 116th of Denning's career as a women's soccer coach (115-95-19)
• Be the Lady Chaps' second win over the Hilltoppers since the series began in 2013 (1-12-2)