LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (4-3-0, 2-2-0) vs.
ST. MARY'S (4-4, 1-3)
Wednesday, March 31 – 4 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian ranks in the top half of the LSC in goals against average, allowing only 1.14 per game. They have shut out three of their last four opponents
•  With a 2-1 record at home this season, LCU needs a win Wednesday to keep their string of winning records at home in tact. They have had winning records at home in eight straight seasons
• StMU's only win in their last four games was a 12-0 thrashing of NAIA Texas Lutheran on March 14. They have a three-game losing streak against NCAA D-II competition
• Despite the loss on Wednesday, Lubbock Christian had a season-high nine shots on goal against Texas A&M International. Their previous high was eight, which had been done twice
• The Lady Chaps are currently in a tie for third in their LSC division with a 2-2 league record and six points on the year. They do hold the tiebreaker with SEU, who is also in third

 
FINALE
Everything has been different in the 2020-21 academic year, and soccer season has been no different, but Wednesday's matchup with St. Mary's will bring the regular season to a close. The Lady Chap slate was pushed from its normal fall dates to the spring, with the season being plated over February and March. LCU also had two games and an exhibition canceled. Heading into the matchup, LCU is 4-3. They lost 3-0 in their last official game (vs. TAMIU), but they did win a scrimmage against Western Texas College 2-0 since then. Although all 13 women's soccer teams in the Lone Star Conference will advance to the postseason tournament, Wednesday's matchup does have important seeding/host implications.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Lubbock Christian has scored multiple goals in four of their seven games so far this season as well as in an exhibition against Abilene Christian and this past Saturday's scrimmage against Western Texas College. The Lady Chaps are currently averaging 1.43 goals per game with 81 shots, 41 of which have been on goal. LCU is also second in the conference in corner kicks this season with 42, behind only DBU with 51. Six different LCU players have scored goals this season and another five have at least one shot on goal.
 
SOPHOMORE SLUMP?
Not for Lady Chap forward Celia Duarte. The Mansfield native is currently leading the team in points with eight for an average of 1.14 per game. She has reached that total with three goals and two assists, both of which tie her for the LCU team lead. In LCU's recent scrimmage against the Westerners, she assisted the first goal and score the second one herself. Duarte already has her name in the LCU program record books, currently ranking seventh on the all-time assists list with 10 in her career, despite having at least two year left to play.
 
DEFENSIVELY DOMINANT
LCU's goals against average of 1.14 this season is the fourth-best mark in the conference, and they have allowed multiple goals in just two of their seven games played. Lady Chap opponents have been limited to just 62 shots (8.9 per game), only 31 of which have been on goal. They have also been held to just 25 corner kicks on the year. LCU has shut out three opponents this season, holding UT Permian Basin, McMurry and St. Edward's to no goals.
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
The Lady Chaps have a wealth of experience in goal for them this season in keeper Hannah Wise. The Midlothian native and Preseason LSC Goalkeeper of the Year has been a four-year starter for the Lady Chaps, seeing action in 62 games across her career. She already has the program record for saves with 185, 23 of which have come this season. In her career (5488 minutes), she has allowed an average of .98 goals per game while posting a save percentage of .756.
 
IN THE STANDS
Admission for Wednesday'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 compliance with university mandates.
 
SCOUTING THE RATTLERS

• St. Mary's has been an offensively efficient team this year, averaging 2.875 goals per game, which is the second-most in the LSC, behind only DBU's 3.30 per game
• The Rattler defense allows an average of 1.00 goals per game. Opponents have been held to 71 shots, only 46 of which have been on target
• Kylie Von Holle and Alexis Lawrence are tied for third in the LSC with five goals this season and both play for St. Mary's. Lawrence leads the team in shots (18), while Von Holle leads in shots on goal (11)
• Miranda Narvaez leads the team and ranks third in the league with four assists, but six other StMU players have assisted goals on the year
• Cameron Koerner has done the lion's share of the goalkeeping this year, posting a save percentage of .810 on 62 shots faced.

 
THE SERIES WITH THE RATTLERS
Lubbock Christian and St. Mary's have met 12 total times in women's soccer, with the Lady Chaps leading the all-time series 7-3-2. LCU has won each of the last four meetings, shutting out St. Mary's three of those times. The last Rattler win was came by a score of 1-0 in double overtime in 2017. Both ties came during the 2016 season.