PUEBLO, Colorado (September 15, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University's women's soccer team started off their first road trip of the season on the right foot, using a pair of second-half goals to beat CSU-Pueblo 2-1 Thursday night at Gonzales Stadium.
 
The win was the Lady Chaps' first-ever against the Thunderwolves in the fourth meeting between the two teams. It brought them to 3-0 on the year, which matches their best start since 2016.
 
Although LCU eventually came out on top, it was CSU-Pueblo on the attack early in the match, taking a shot on goal in just the third minute that was saved by Lady Chap goalkeeper Megan Mirabal.
 
Maddie Hoel countered with the first Lubbock Christian shot in the seventh minute, and the Thunderwolves put another shot on goal in the 16^th minute that was also saved, but offensive chances proved hard to come by in the first half.
 
Lubbock Christian created some chances later in the opening period, earning a corner kick in the 38^th minute and putting two shots on goal just before the break, but LCU's defense kept CSUP from taking another shot on goal until the 81^st minute of the match.
 
The Lady Chaps held onto their offensive momentum from the final few minutes of the first half after the break, earning a corner kick just three minutes in. Finally, in the 55^th minute, they were able to break the scoreless tie.
 
Allison Scott received a pass just inside the 18-yard box, and when she came to meet the ball, she was taken down hard from behind, earning a penalty kick. She took the PK herself and beat the keeper low on the right side of the goal to put the Lady Chaps up 1-0.
 
The goal is the 25^th of Scott's LCU career and her fourth by way of the penalty kick. She now has 67 career points.
 
Lubbock Christian continued to apply pressure offensively, getting shots from Julie Shahi (65^th minute), Arely Jimenez (66^th minute), and Makenna Pate (68^th minute, 71^st minute), and a shot on goal from Celia Duarte.
 
In the 76^th minute, they were able to double their lead, again thanks to a CSU-Pueblo foul. This one happened much further away from the goal (about 10 yards into the Lady Chap offensive half), but led to a goal nonetheless. Shadiana Haney stepped up for the ensuing free kick and drilled it ahead to the left side of the goal. Duarte received it there and passed back to Pate, who fired past the goalkeeper.
Although it was her team-leading third goal of the season and the 12^th of her collegiate career, Pate's goal in the 76^th minute ended up being decisive in the match and was her first-ever game-winner as a Lady Chap.
 
The Thunderwolves did respond after the second LCU goal, finally putting another shot on goal and scoring with just under 10 minutes left in the match. They had one chance to tie up the game in the 83^rd minute, but the shot on goal was saved by Mirabal to secure the Lady Chap win.
 
Lubbock Christian will try and make it a clean sweep of the Centennial State and move to 4-0 for the first time since 2012 on Friday, when they take on Colorado Christian at 1 p.m. CT at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood, Colorado.