LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (8-5-1, 5-1-1) at
UT PERMIAN BASIN (5-6, 2-4)
Saturday, Nov. 6 – 7 p.m.
Falcon Field – Odessa, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian is currently in second place in the Lone Star Conference, heading into the final game with a 5-1-1 league record and 13 points
• Although their 154 shots are the third-fewest in the LSC, the Chaps have put 46.1 percent of those shots on goal, and their 5.46 shots on goal per game is the fourth-most in the league
• Lubbock Christian's goals against average of 1.29 is the second-best in the conference, and their scoring average of 1.93 is the third-highest mark
• UT Permian Basin is coming off a 5-1 loss at Midwestern State in which Michael Neweke scored the only Falcon goal. They are 2-5 in league play and in eighth in the conference
• With a second-half brace Wednesday against Dallas Baptist, Tariq Bakkali became LCU's team-leader in goals scored this season with four

 
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Lubbock Christian entered the week needing to win both of their final two games to hold onto the second place spot in the Lone Star Conference and secure a first-round bye in the LSC Tournament. That is still true, although the team chasing them is now West Texas A&M and not St. Mary's. The Chaps control their own destiny for the No. 2 seed and would lock it up with a win, but a Buff loss against Midwestern State (in Canyon at 2 p.m.) would also keep LCU in second. WT did beat MSU 4-3 earlier this season in Wichita Falls. No other team has a chance to jump the Chaps in the LSC standings, and LCU does not have a chance to move into first.
 
GOOSE-EGGS
The 3-0 shutout of the Patriots on Wednesday night was the seventh of the season for the Chaps. It is the most in a single season by an LCU team since Paul Gilbert took over as head coach, breaking the previous record of six set in 2018. The program record overall is eight shutouts, done in both the 2013 and 2011 seasons. Lubbock Christian opponents have averaged just 1.29 goals per game this season, which is the second-best mark in the LSC. They have average 10.6 shots per game (149 overall) with a measly 32.9 percent of those on goal. Braxton Thorne has been in goal for all seven of the shutouts, posting a save percentage of .700 that ranks fourth in the league.
 
BALANCED ATTACK
Lubbock Christian is averaging 1.93 goals per game this season, with scoring coming from all over the field. Two of the goals Wednesday were scored by Bakkali, who now leads the team with four goals, while Jacopo Ghezzi netted the early game-winner. In total, 14 different Chaparrals have found the back of the net this year. Ghezzi, Luciano Rodriguez, Kevin Mejias and Pablo Galietero Diez all have three each. Luca Hollenstein and Tomas Casas have scored two each, and seven other players have scored once. LCU has 170 total shots this year (12.1 per game) and 45.9 percent of those have been on goal.
 
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
Ghezzi's eventual game-winner against the Patriots on Wednesday was scored just 12:58 into the match, marking the fifth time this year the Chaps have scored in the first 15 minutes of play. Ghezzi also has the earliest goal scored this season, as he scored just 4:32 into the match against No. 24 St. Mary's last Saturday. Lubbock Christian has been at their best this season when they score the first goal of the game. They are 8-1-1 when scoring first, and they are 6-1 when leading at halftime. The only loss when scoring first/leading at halftime was at No. 5 West Texas A&M on Sept. 25.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
On Tuesday of this week, Lubbock Christian players Ivan Muanze-Bengono and Braxton Thorne were recognized as the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively. For Thorne, it was his third time winning the conference weekly award this season. It was the first time for Muanze-Bengono to be recognized, but the third time for an LCU player to claim the defensive award after Hollenstein claimed it twice earlier in the year. The wins over Texas A&M-International (1-0) and No. 24 St. Mary's (4-2) lead to the recognition.
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Saturday's game will be Lubbock Christian's seventh and final on the road in the regular season, where they are 3-3-1 this year. The three road wins came against Adams State (3-0), UT Tyler (4-0) and St. Mary's (4-2). The Chaps have averaged 2.14 goals per game on the road with 75 shots, 34 of which have been on goal. The Falcons play their home games at the UTPB Soccer Field, which has a turf playing surface and is also used for practice for their football team.
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS

• UTPB has lost four of its last five games, only securing a 2-1 against Oklahoma Christian on Oct. 30
• Gustavo Baroso leads the team in both goals and points with five goals and one assist this season
• The Falcon loss to Midwestern State on Wednesday officially eliminated them from postseason play. Even if they win on Saturday, either DBU, UT Tyler or Texas A&M-International will get in ahead of them
• Salvador Vargas Ramos leads the team in assists this season with four, and he has scored one goal himself
• Alfonso Aragon has handled the majority of the goalkeeping duties, posting a goals against average of 2.56 and a save percentage of .670

 
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD:

• Be the 100^th win in program history (99-80-22)
• Be the 41^st win in head coach Paul Gilbert's career (40-46-10)
• Be the sixth win over UTPB since the season series began in 2014 (5-6-2)