TYLER, Texas (February 6, 2021) – The Lubbock Christian University men's soccer team had just two shots on goal all game, but made one count, beating UT Tyler 1-0 on Saturday at the Perkins Soccer Complex.
 
The win helped the Chaps start the season 1-0 for the second straight season, after they beat UC-Colorado Springs in their 2019 season-opener. The last time LCU won its season-opener in back-to-back years was the 2012 and 2013 seasons, when they beat Southwest (N.M.) each year.
 
Lubbock Christian's offense had seven total shots, with one on goal in each half. Three shots came in the game's first 30 minutes, but Pablo Galietero Diez and Tariq Bakkali both missed the frame. Just before halftime though, senior captain Jonathan Woods put one on goal and found the back of the net, giving the Chaps the lead. Hector Rodriguez-Cabo assisted on the goal.
 
The goal for Woods was just his third ever in his LCU career and his first since Oct. 28, 2017 – his sophomore season – when he found the back of the net against UT Permian Basin.
 
The Chaps tried to double the lead just two and a half minutes into the second half, as Rodriguez-Cabo put a shot of his own on goal, but it was saved by UTT keeper Mathias Eriksen.
 
LCU's back line really locked in after the goal and did not allow another shot from the Patriots until the 80^th, minute, but that attempt was stopped by Chap goalkeeper Braxton Thorne.
 
Thorne made four total saves in the win, giving him 156 for his career. It was also the seventh shutout of his career. His last was in 2019's season-opener against UCCS, but that ended up being the only time all season that Thorne earned a shutout.
 
Lubbock Christian is now 2-0 all-time against UT Tyler and will get another crack at the Patriots in Lone Star Conference play on March 13.
 
The next game for the Chaps will begin league play, as they travel to Canyon, Texas to take on West Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 at The Pitch.