LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (2-1-0, 1-1-0) vs.
UT TYLER (1-2-1)
Saturday, March 13 – 1 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian and UT Tyler will be meeting on the soccer field for the second time this season. The Chaps beat the Patriots 1-0 in what was the season-opener for both teams
• Head coach Paul Gilbert is in his fifth season leading LCU, having gone 30-37-9 in his four seasons. He currently ranks second on the all-time LCU win list, two back of the program record
• Three different LCU players have scored so far this season, including Fernando Flores (twice), Jonathan Woods and Agustine Contreras Orsi
• The Chaparrals are coming off their first loss of the season, falling 3-0 at Midwestern State. It was the first time LCU has been shut out since Nov. 12, 2019
• Lubbock Christian currently sits in fifth place in the league standings with six games to play. The top four teams by points at the end of the season will advance to the LSC Tournament

 
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
With four goals in three games so far this season, Lubbock Christian ranks No. 5 in the Lone Star Conference with an average of 1.67 per game. They have done a good job spreading the offense around, getting goals from three different players. Fernando Flores leads the team with a pair of goals, which is tied for the second-most in the league. He is coming off a season in which he scored nine times in 19 games. The two other LCU goals this season have come from Jonathan Woods and Agustine Contreras Oris. Woods' goal was the game-winner at UT Tyler, and marked his first time scoring since 2018 when he was still a sophomore. Contreras Orsi's score came against OC and was his first goal in an LCU uniform. Pablo Galietero Diez, Tariq Bakkali and Hector Rodriguez-Cabo all also have six shots this season but have not broken through for a goal yet.
 
THE FLORES FILE
A deeper look at the 2021 LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year's career numbers reveal him already making a mark on the LCU program record books. Flores, in his junior season but with a chance to play two more years, already ranks No. 3 in program history in both total goals (14) and total points (35). Four more goals would push him into second place on the all-time list ahead of Nick Gorrie (2011-13), but he will need a heroic 27 to surpass Billy Forbes (2011, 2013) for the program record. Flores also ranks tied for second in career game-winners with six, needing one to take sole possession and eight to claim the program record.
 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
The Chaparrals have limited opponents to an average of 1.00 goals per game in 2021, which is tied for the fourth-best mark in the conference. LCU opponents have attempted 36 shots, 17 of which have been on goal, and they have earned nine corner kicks. The Chaps have not given a penalty kick opportunity yet this year. To start the year, LCU shut out both UT Tyler and Oklahoma Christian, already matching their total of two shutouts in the 2019 season. Defender and Ivan Muanze-Bengono has played every minute on Lubbock Christian's back line so far this year.
 
HE'S A KEEPER
Braxton Thorne is in the midst of his third straight season as LCU's starting goalkeeper, playing every game there since he was a freshman. He has made 10 saves this year, including a season-high seven in the most recent game against Midwestern State. He has a save percentage of  .824 and a goals against average of 1.0. For his career, the Lubbock native already has the program record in saves with 166 currently. He is also the all-time wins leader and has a career record of 19-14-5.
 
LOOKING AT THE LEAGUE
With most of the Lone Star Conference two or three games into league play by this point, it's time for a look at the standings. None of the nine teams remain undefeated, after Midwestern State fell to Oklahoma Christian 2-1 last week. UT Permian Basin currently sits atop the conference with a 2-1-1 record and seven points in the league. MSU, Texas A&M International and West Texas A&M are all close behind with six points.
 
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 in accordance with university policy.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS

•  UT Tyler ranks last in the LSC in scoring average with .60 goals per game. They have scored just three times in five games played
• The Patriots also allow the third-most goals per game in the conference so far this year, having been scored on seven times. Goalkeepers Mathias Eriksen has posted a save percentage of .667 on 43 shots faced
• Kenny Jones is still at the helm of the UTT men's soccer program, which has never seen a head coach besides him. He has led the Patriots for 18 seasons, going 213-76-41 in that time
• All three UTT goals have been scored by different players: Ramirao Alvarez, Nathaniel Lopez and Luis Mahecha
• Mahecha and Alvarez rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the Lone Star Conference in shots with 16 and 15, respectively, despite just the one goal apiece

 
THE SERIES WITH THE PATRIOTS
There have only been two meetings ever against UT Tyler, with the all-time series beginning last year. Lubbock Christian has won both games, earning an overtime win on a goal by Richie Vaca-Cordova in 2019 and a 1-0 win on the road earlier this year.