LUBBOCK, Texas (September 12, 2021) – It took just over 96 minutes before either team found the back of the net, but once it finally happened it was the Lubbock Christian University men's soccer team that was celebrating a win on Saturday afternoon, as they beat CSU-Pueblo 2-1 at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex.
Ezequiel Fidabal scored the game-winner, receiving a pass from
Felipe Mira just inside the 18-yard box, where he rocketed the ball low and left, past the diving Thunderwolf goalkeeper. Fidabel sprinted to midfield where he was dog-piled by his teammates in the celebration. It was both the first goal for Fidabel and the first assist for Mira in their time with LCU.
The win brought the Chap record back to even on the season at 2-2 and marked the first time this season that CSU-Pueblo has been beaten. The Thunderwolves had previously beaten Fort Hays State 2-1 before shutting out MSU Billings, Newman and UT Permian Basin. The goal scored by the Chaps was the first against CSUP's defense in more than 400 minutes of playing time.
LCU's offense created a number of good scoring chances in the first half, including one in just the sixth minute when
Hector Rodriguez-Cabo had a shot on goal. Rodriguez-Cabo had two more shots on goal before halftime, and
Jacopo Ghezzi and
Fernando Flores had one each, but Garret Wild was able to make the saves each time.
Opposite Wild, Lubbock Christian started
Braxton Thorne in goal, and the Lubbock native matched the Thunderwolf keeper with a clean first half, making three saves in the process. Thorne made three more stops in the second half to notch both his and the Chaps' second clean sheet of the year.
Thorne now has 182 career saves in his four years with the Chaps, and the shutout was his 13
th overall. All-time, he is 23-15-2 in goal.
Both defenses locked in a little tighter during the second half, with only four shots on goal between the two, although there were a few other good chances for both LCU and CSUP.
Jeremy Chua had the only Chap shot on goal, shooting low in the 80
th minute, but it was saved.
Lamar Bynum had the final shot on goal for the Thunderwolves, heading a ball on frame in the 89
th minute, but Thorne again was there.
Nazar Deputat took a shot from outside the 18-yard box for CSU-Pueblo four minutes into the overtime period, but it missed wide right.
The next offensive chance was Fidabel's, and he didn't miss.
Lubbock Christian will remain at home for its next two games, taking on UC-Colorado Springs at 8 p.m. on Thursday before hosting Saint Martin's at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
