LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0) vs.
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS (0-0)
Thursday, Sept. 2 – 5 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS

• The Lady Chaps will play their first three games of the season on their home field, which was new for the 2020-21 school year. They were 3-1 there last season
• Lubbock Christian's first win this season will mark a milestone for the program as the 100th win in the history of the program, which began play in 2010
• New Mexico Highlands did not compete in women's soccer during the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this their first game in 668 days
• LCU returns all of its roster from a season ago, including All-Conference selections Celia Duarte, Shadiana Haney, Arely Jimenez and Kaylen McNatt
• The Lady Chaps finished the adjusted spring 2021 schedule with a 5-4 record, including a 3-2 showing in conference play and a 3-1 record at home

 
NOT TOO LONG AGO…
The Lubbock Christian women's soccer team was playing games earlier this year, finishing their season in April of 2021. The season was pushed to the spring of the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In case you still can't remember that far back, LCU ended the season 5-4, earning the No. 2 seed in their division and a first round bye in the LSC Tournament, where their season eventually came to an end. They averaged 1.33 goals per game on 118 total shots, while holding opponents to 87 shots and just 111 goals per game. Four Lady Chaps were named to the All-Conference Team, along with three on the All-Academic Team and one on the All-Freshman Team.
 
GUESS WHO'S BACK
The 12 goals scored by Lubbock Christian during the spring 2021 season were netted by seven different players, all of which are returning for this year's campaign, along with a wealth of other experience. Duarte and Allison Scott led the way with three scores apiece and both also added in a pair of assists. Lindsey Elison was the only other Lady Chap to net multiple goals with two. Shadiana Haney and Kaylen McNatt – LCU's two most-used defenders – are both also back after both playing more than 750 minutes a year ago. Finally, goalkeeper Hannah Wise returns for her fifth year with the team, already holding a number of Lubbock Christian program records.
 
FRESH FACES
Even with the large number of returners for the 2021 season, 13 new players were added to bolster the roster, giving LCU 34 total players. Most of the players (11) are freshmen, along with one sophomore transfer and one graduate student. Three of the players hail from outside the United States, including players from Germany, Italy and Spain. Nine of the players are from within the Lone Star State, and one is from New Mexico.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
A large part of Lubbock Christian's success last season came from their success on defense, which limited opponents to just 1.11 goals per game. That mark ranked in the top half of the Lone Star Conference. Opposing teams averaged only 9.7 shots per game with 43 total shots on goal. Furthermore, the Lady Chaps allowed just 34 corner kicks and committed only 45 fouls while drawing 55 corners and 60 fouls from their opponents. Wise started all nine games in the spring in goal, posting a .767 save percentage and helping with LCU's four shutouts.
 
PRESEASON PICKINGS
The Lubbock Christian University women's soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the 2021 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll. The Lady Chaps drew 286 points in the poll, which was led by DBU, who earned the first-place spot in the poll with 433 total points and 18 first place votes. Just ahead of LCU in fifth place was Texas A&M-Commerce with 295 points and Texas Woman's fell behind in seventh with 265 points. LCU will play all 13 teams in the league once during the conference portion of the regular season, and the top six teams by points will advance to participate in the LSC Postseason Tournament.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS
Although the 2020-21 academic year looked strange for the women's soccer program, it was the first played at the brand new LCU Soccer & Track Complex, which was constructed during the summer of 2020. The Lady Chaps went 3-1 in their first season at the new complex, and they are 53-23-11 in home games all-time. Lubbock Christian has never had a losing record at home under head coach Alex Denning. The home schedule for 2021 features 10 home games in total.
 
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS

• NMHU was placed 13^th in the 2021 RMAC women's soccer preseason poll, drawing 20 points
• Bianca Contreras was named the head coach of the Cowgirls prior to the 2019 season, making this her third year with the program. She was previously an assistant coach for four years
• Thursday's game is the NMHU season-opener as well. They will travel down US-87 and take on fellow Lone Star Conference member Angelo State on Saturday
• NMHU did not play during the 2020-21 academic year and they did not win a game during the 2019 season. The program's last win came on October 25, 2018 against Adams State (1-0)
• All three of the players who scored goals for the Cowgirls during the 2019 season have since moved on, leaving the team without a player who has found the back of the net in an NMHU game

 
THE SERIES WITH THE COWGIRLS
This will be the first meeting ever between Lubbock Christian and New Mexico Highlands. NMHU has been playing women's soccer since 2007 and LCU since 2010, but this will be the first time for the two teams to face off on the soccer field.