CANYON, Texas (March 27, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University had more shots on goal than West Texas A&M but fell 2-1 in Lone Star Conference action at The Pitch on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Chaparrals dropped to 4-3 overall this season and 3-3 in Lone Star Conference play, while West Texas A&M improved to 5-1 both overall and in league action.
 
WT took the first shot of the game less than five minutes in, but it was blocked by an LCU defender. The Buffs took shots again at the 7:25 and 19:36 mark, but it was actually the Chaps who had the first shot on goal, as Fernando Flores had a scoring chance 20 minutes into the match.
 
The first shot on goal by WT came in the 33^rd minute, but it was saved by Ben Pelz, making his first start ever with the Chaps. Two minutes later, though Keaton Hartman found the back of the net to break the scoreless tie.
 
Niklas Newumann and Agustine Contreras Orsi both put shots on goal within 60 seconds in the 37^th minute, but both were saved and the Chaps went into halftime down a goal.
 
The two teams traded shots on goal that were saved to start the half before West Texas A&M added to their lead in the 58^th minute by Callum Doyle. Giancarlo Saldana quickly followed up with another Buff scoring chance, but it went off the right post.
 
LCU got one of the goals back in the 62^nd minute, as Juan Jose Valdez Lopez sent a ball in to Flores, who trapped it, beat one defender and shot past the right side of WT's goalkeeper. The goal was Flores' third of the year and ties him for the third-most in the Lone Star Conference.
 
Hector Rodriguez-Cabo created another scoring chance just two minutes later, but the shot on goal was saved. Jonathan Woods had LCU's last shot attempt in the 79^th minute, but it was saved too, as the Buff defense locked down to hold onto their one-goal lead.
 
Pelz made one more save in the second half, giving him four in the game, although he did take the loss. It was the first game for Lubbock Christian that did not feature Braxton Thorne as the starting goalkeeper since October 28, 2017 when Diego Goiabeira started against UTPB and Thorne was still a senior at Frenship H.S.
 
Lubbock Christian has two more games to complete the regular season, and will now turn their attention to Dallas Baptist, who they take on at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Patriot Soccer Field.