LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (1-0) vs.
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (0-0)
Tuesday, February 23 – 6 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• With last week's winter storm postponing a matchup with West Texas A&M, Lubbock Christian will be seeing game action for the first time in 17 days
• Head coach Paul Gilbert is in his fifth season leading LCU, having gone 29-36-9 in his four seasons. He currently ranks second on the all-time LCU win list, three back of the program wins mark.
• Defender Jonathan Woods scored the lone goal in LCU's season-opening win, marking his first score since Oct. 28, 2017 when he was a sophomore
• Tuesday's matcup will actually be the first official game at the brand new LCU Soccer & Track Complex, which was complete in August 2020
• The matchup with OC begins Lone Star Conference play for the Chaps, who were picked to finish fifth in the league's preseason poll. Top four teams at the end of the season make the LSC Tournament

 
WAITING PATIENTLY
Lubbock Christian University was not supposed to have this long in between their first game – a 1-0 road win against UT Tyler – and their second, but Mother Nature had some other ideas. The winter storm that covered the entire state of Texas last week canceled what was supposed to be the Chaps' Lone Star Conference opener at West Texas A&M and made Tuesday's home matchup against Oklahoma Christian the first LSC game. When the Chaps take the field on Tuesday, it will be their first time in a competitive game in 17 days.
 
WELCOME TO OUR CRIB
Since the Chaparral soccer program began in 2010, the team has largely had success on its home field, going 42-26-11 all-time in home games. The trend held true during the 2019 season, when LCU went 6-1 on their home field, with the only loss coming against No. 13 Midwestern State. Home field means something a little different this year though, as Tuesday's contest will be the first official game against at the new LCU Soccer & Track Complex, which was constructed last summer. It includes a modernized turf soccer field with an eight-lane track around the perimeter, press box for media and coaching staff, lights for evening competition, and stadium seating for 500 fans. A number of exhibitions/scrimmages have been played at the new facility, but an official game has not taken place yet
 
A LOOK AT THE LONE STAR
The spring 2021 Lone Star Conference preseason poll and awards were announced on Thursday, with the Chaps picked to finish fifth in this year's league standings. Flores and Muanze-Bengono were also recognized as the Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Fifth place is exactly where the Chaps finished in 2019, and they were slated in that spot in the poll thanks to 113 points. Midwestern State was picked to win the league with 171 total points and 13 of the 20 first place votes.
 
FRESH FACES
In Lubbock Christian's first game of the season, six player who were not with the team last year saw playing time, including four in the starting lineup. Ezequiel Fidabel, Felix Gotthardt, Juan Jose Valdez Lopez and Luca Hollenstein were all in the starting 11, while Tobias Holtz and Brandon Torres came off the bench to see action. Five of the six newbies are from outside of the United States, with Torres hailing from Dallas. Torres transferred from DBU and Gotthardt from Middle Georgia State, while the rest are in their freshman season.
 
NO GOALS FOR YOU
LCU earned a win in the first game of the season thanks to a goal from defender Jonathan Woods and a shutout from the Chaparral defense. Lubbock Christian allowed just 10 shots total in the game, including just two in the final 45 minutes of play. Four of those shots were on goal, but LCU goalkeeper Braxton Thorne saved them all. The shutout was the first for both Thorne and the Chaps since Sept. 14, 2019 when they shut out Oklahoma Baptist 4-0.
 
IN THE STANDS
Admission for Sunday's game is free, but there will be guidelines in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. Masks will be required for all attendees, with seating every other row and at least two seats or six feet in between families in the stands. Seating regulations could be changed to match local and/or state mandates.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• Oklahoma Christian has not played a game yet this season, and they finished 2019 5-11 overall and 2-8 in conference play
• The Eagles were picked to finish in eighth place in the Spring 2021 LSC Preseason Poll with 45 points, just four points ahead of DBU in the ninth and final spot of the poll
• OC scored the third-fewest goals in the league last season (1.35 per game) while allowing the third-most (2.29 per game)
• Head coach David Scott has been leading the Eagle program since 2006, posting an overall record of 90-129-21 (.419) in that time
• The 6'7" Thomas van der Meulen returns on the front line for Oklahoma Christian after scoring three goals and assisting one more for the Eagles last season

 
THE SERIES WITH OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN
In 10 meetings all-time between the two teams, Lubbock Christian is 7-2-1 against Oklahoma Christian. The Chaps were dominant to start the series, winning the first six games against the Eagles. Things have been more even as of late though, with a win, a loss and a tie in the last three meetings.