LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (4-2-0, 3-2-0) at
WEST TEXAS A&M (4-1-0, 4-1-0)
Saturday, March 27 – 1 p.m.
The Pitch – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian currently sits in sixth place in the league standings with three games to play. The top four teams by points at the end of the season will advance to the LSC Tournament
• LCU is averaging 1.50 goals per game so far this season, which is the fourth-most in the Lone Star Conference. They have scored multiple goals in three games this year
• Chap goalkeeper Braxton Thorne has made 23 saves and allowed just seven goals for a save percentage of .767, which is the third-best mark in the LSC
• WT forward Giancarlo Saldana comes into the weekend matchup ranked second in the LSC with five goals on the year. He has also assisted one score for a team-leading 11 points
• Luca Hollenstein scored for the Chaps in Tuesday's game against St. Mary's for his first goal in an LCU uniform. He is the seventh different player to score this year

 
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Despite a loss in their most recent game, Lubbock Christian netted a pair of goals, one from Hollenstein and one from Hector Rodriguez-Cabo, who is now tied for the team lead with two scores. The two goals up LCU's scoring output to 1.50 goals per game, which is the fourth-best mark in the LSC and only .071 behind third-place team UT Permian Basin. The Chaparrals are fifth in shots per game at 10.67, but they are seventh in shots on goal per game at 4.0. They are fourth in the league in points per game with 4.33.  
 
RIVALRY ON THE RANGE
On August 6, 2019, Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M announced the establishment of the Rivalry on the Range series, which is a year-long competition including 15 sports in which the two schools will compete against one another. The Rivalry on the Range series scoring components will include head-to-head battles in men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and softball, with additional points available in postseason play. WT currently has the lead in this year's series. Full results can be viewed at rivarlyontherange.com.
 
DOWN ON THE CORNER
In all four of their wins this season, the Chaps have ended the game as the team with the most corner kicks. In both of their losses, they have been on the lower end in the corner kick statistical category. St. Mary's earned eight corners to just three for LCU in Wednesday's game, meaning the Chaps have earned 23 this season (3.83 per game, eighth in the LSC) and they have allowed opponents to earn 23. Seven of LCU's corner kicks came in in the March 13 win over UT Tyler, and Ivan Muanze-Bengono scored the game-winner off a corner kick in that matchup.
 
THE FLORES FILE
Although he has not scored a goal since the Feb. 23 matchup against Oklahoma Christian, Fernando Flores has continued to contribute to the Chaparral attack as well as climb up the LCU record books. His six points on the season lead the team and is tied for the fourth-most in the LSC, and his three assists are also tied for fourth in the league. The Mexico native is also up to 37 career points now, which has him in third in the LCU record book. He needs five more points to surpass Nick Gorrie (2011-13) and take over second place on the leaderboard.
 
HE'S A KEEPER
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 StMU, bringing his season total to 23. His save percentage of .767 is the third-best in the conference and his goals against average of 1.167 ranks sixth. 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 175 currently. He is also the all-time wins leader and has a career record of 21-15-5.
 
HIT THE ROAD, CHAPS
Lubbock Christian will be playing its fourth of five home games on the spring 2021 schedule. They are 2-1 on the road so far this season with wins over UT Tyler and Texas A&M International as well as a loss at Midwestern State. Both road wins have come by a score of 1-0.
 
SCOUTING THE BUFFS

• West Texas A&M has the best defense in the Lone Star Conference so far this season, allowing an average of .60 goals per game
• WT's only loss on the season was on March 2 against Texas A&M International by a score of 1-0. The Dustdevils score the game's only goal on a penalty kick in the 36^th minute, and the Buffs outshot them 10-6.
• The Buffs' 12 shots per game is the fourth-most in the league, but their 5.60 shots on goal per game is the third-best mark in the conference
• West Texas A&M is currently tied for first in the conference standings with St. Mary's, with both teams tallying 12 points. The Buffs currently have the tiebreaker with the Rattlers though, having beaten StMU 2-1 on March 9
• Butch Lauffer is in his 29^th season leading the WT men's soccer program, boasting a 337-138-37 all-time record with the Buffs

 
THE SERIES WITH THE BUFFS
Lubbock Christian trails the all-time series with West Texas A&M – which began in 3013 – with five wins and six losses, but the Chaps have come away victorious in three out of the last four matchups. That includes last year's matchup in Lubbock, when LCU poured on four goals, including three in the first half, to take down the Buffs.