LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (4-1-0, 3-1-0) vs.
ST. MARY'S (4-1-0, 3-1-0)
Tuesday, March 23 – 6 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Head coach Paul Gilbert is in his fifth season leading LCU, having gone 32-37-9 in his four seasons. His most recent win pushed him past Kyle Beard for the most wins in program history
• Lubbock Christian is allowing just .80 goals per game, which gives them the third-best defense in the league. They have shut out three opponents this year
• St. Mary's currently boasts the best defense in the league, having only allowed two goals (.40 per game) in their five games played this season
• Lubbock Christian currently sits in a tie for third place in the league standings with five games to play. The top four teams by points at the end of the season will advance to the LSC Tournament
• Lubbock Christian is averaging 1.40 goals per game so far this season, which is tied for the third-most in the Lone Star Conference. Six different players have scored for the Chaps

 
FIRST THINGS FIRST
In their most recent win over Texas A&M-International, Lubbock Christian once again opened the scoring with a goal in the 38^th minute on the way to a 1-0 win. It is the fourth time this season, and the Chaps are undefeated in those four contests. They have had a lead going into halftime three times this year. They scored in the 43rd minute of their season-opener against UT Tyler, the 26th minute of the win over Oklahoma Christian, and the 64th minute of their second win against UTT. This trend held true in the 2019 season as well, when LCU scored first nine times and was 7-2 in those contests. St. Mary's has allowed just two goals this season, both against West Texas A&M and both in the first half of that contest.
 
GAME-WINNERS
All four of the Chaparral's game-winning goals this season have come from different players. Jonathan Woods scored the first in the season-opener, Fernando Flores had the game-winner against Oklahoma Christian, Ivan Muanze-Bengono scored the go-ahead goal in the second win over UTT, and Pablo Galietero Diez scored the lone goal in last week's win against Texas A&M-International. Two other players on LCU's roster – Hector Rodriguez-Cabo and Tariq Bakkali – have scored game-winners in a Chap uniform but do not have one yet this year.
 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Lubbock Christian notched its third shutout of the season last week against Texas A&M International, surpassing their 2019 season total of two. They have allowed just four goals in five games this spring, ranking third in the conference and No. 32 nationally with a goals against average of .80. Chap opponents this season have attempted just 51 shots, only 25 of which have been on goal, and they have only earned 25 corner kicks. LCU has not allowed a penalty kick yet this year. Muanze-Bengono has been on the field for every minute of LCU's season to lead the defense, and freshman Luca Hollenstein has played all but one minute.
 
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNE
Junior goalkeeper Braxton Thorne serves as the Chaparrals' last line of defense and has done a solid job in goal this season. He made three saves against TAMIU, bringing his season total to 20 and earning his third shutout of the year. His save percentage of .833 is the second-best in the conference and his goals against average of .80 ranks fifth. The Lubbock native is in his third year as LCU's starting goalkeeper, starting every game since he was a freshman. For his career, Thorne already has the program record in saves with 172 currently. He is also the all-time wins leader and has a career record of 21-14-5.
 
WELCOME TO OUR CRIB
Since the Chaparral soccer program began in 2010, the team has largely had success on its home field, going 44-26-11 all-time in home games. The trend has held true so far this year, with LCU winning each of its home games. Home field means something a little different this year though, has begun playing 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.
 
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 RATTLERS

• St. Mary's ranks tied for third in the Lone Star Conference with an average of 1.40 goals per game. They have taken 56 shots, 27 of which have been on goal, and earned 25 corners on the year
• Rattler goalkeeper Andre Schlaefli leads the LSC in goals against average (.259) and save percentage (.889), but he has missed one game and part of a second this season. The Katy, Texas native has allowed just one goal in 347 minutes on the field
• Senior midfielder Liam Morrison lead the team in goals with two in five games, although Alonso Rodriguez leads the team in shots (11) and Deni Cresto leads in shots on goal (6)
• St. Mary's is coming off its best season in program history, as they went 15-3-3, won the Lone Star Conference and reached the round of 16 in their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance
• Johnny Clifford is in just his third season leading the Rattlers after spending to seasons as the assistant to former StMU and LCU coach Matt Barnes

 
THE SERIES WITH THE RATTLERS
Lubbock Christian is 5-3-1 all-time against St. Mary's. The two programs first met in 2011 in a game that LCU dominated 6-1 as former Chap Billy Forbes netted the first hat trick in program history. St. Mary's won back-to-back games in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, the Rattlers won the regular season meeting 2-1, but LCU went back to San Antonio in the Heartland Conference Tournament and pulled out a 2-1 win. Last season, the teams fought to a 1-1 draw.