ODESSA, Texas (November 6, 2021) – In a game featuring the highest combined score of the season, Lubbock Christian University's men's soccer team fell 4-3 at UT Permian Basin on Saturday night.
 
The Chaps (8-6-1, 5-2-1) finish the regular season third in the Lone Star Conference with 16 points. It is their highest finish in their three seasons in the league, and four spots better than seventh, where they were voted in the 2021 LSC Preseason Poll.
 
UTPB's win sets up a rematch between the two teams just three days from now. With their third place finish in the conference, LCU will host a quarterfinal match in the LSC Championship on Tuesday against the No. 6 seed, which the Falcons earned by winning.
 
There were just 56 seconds left before the game ended in a tie when the decisive goal was dealt. A cross into the box by a Falcon attacker ricocheted off an LCU defender and into the back of the net in the second overtime period, ending the game in a win for UT Permian Basin.
 
That game-winner was the first by the Falcons after halftime, as they did all of their other offensive damage in the first 45 minutes of play. UTPB came out on the attack and took a 2-0 lead just 7:16 into the match with a pair of goals from Salvador Vargas Ramos.
 
Lubbock Christian broke through in the 21^st minute, pulling back within a goal thanks to a converted penalty kick from Hector Rodriguez-Cabo. The penalty was drawn by the Chaps on a free kick, and Rodriguez-Cabo calmly drilled it low and right, past the outstretched arms of the keeper. He is now 2-2 on the year on penalty kicks.
 
Vargas Ramos wasn't done yet though, as he completed a first half hat trick by converting a penalty kick of his own in the 33^rd minute to push the lead back to two goals, which is where it stayed heading into halftime.
 
In the second half, it was all Chaps, as they erased the two-goal deficit and very nearly took the lead in regulation.
 
The first goal came in the 66^th minute from Jacopo Ghezzi. The freshman midfielder was selected to take a free kick from about 25 yards out and all the work himself, drilling it into the upper right corner of the goal so quickly that the keeper didn't even move.
 
Just five minutes later the Chaps knotted the game up at three goals apiece on yet another set piece, although this time it was a corner kick. Ghezzie took the corner kick, which was touched by nobody in particular at first before bouncing to Luciano Rodriguez, who pushed it over the goal line.
 
The goals from both Ghezzi and Rodriguez were their fourth of the season. Rodriguez moved back into the team lead in points and now has 11 on the season.
 
Although the two teams stayed locked at 3-3 and eventually went to overtime, it was not for lack of effort by the Chap offense. LCU took six more shots in the final 20 minutes of the half, and earned three more corner kicks. Shots by Pablo Galietero Diez I83rd minute) and Tomas Casas (88^th minute) were on goal but saved by the UTPB keeper.
 
The first 10 minutes of overtime featured a corner kick apiece by each team, but no shots. Playing to extend their season for at least a few more days, UT Permian Basin controlled the second overtime period though, taking seven shots before eventually getting their game-winner.
 
Postseason play will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday with the No. 3-seed Chaps hosting the No. 6-seed Falcons at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex.