LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (2-2) vs.
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (1-1-2)
Wednesday, Sept. 22 – 7:30 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian had its games against UC-Colorado Springs and Saint Martin's last weekend canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, making this their first game in 10 days
• Admission for both the Chap game at 7:30 and the Lady Chap game at 5 is free for all fans
• Although this game (and the next two) are against Lone Star Conference opponents, Lubbock Christian will not begin league play until October 9 against West Texas A&M
• Through four games, LCU is averaging 1.75 goals on 10.5 shots per game. Of their 42 total shots, a whopping 61.9 percent of them have been on goal
• Mitchell Sowerby is in his first year leading the OC men's soccer team. He was hired in May after leading Mid-America Christian to a 35-7-4 record in two seasons
• Lubbock Christian notched its second shutout of the year in the win over CSU-Pueblo, limiting the Thunderwolves to just six shots on goal

 
AWARD CENTRAL
Since the Chaparrals last took the field, a pair of players were recognized with Lone Star Conference awards. Luca Hollenstein was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Braxton Thorne the Goalkeeper of the Week in the awards announced on September 14. Hollenstein played every minute of LCU's two games against MSU-Denver and CSU-Pueblo, who they shut out in a 1-0 win. Thorne was the goalkeeper in the shutout of the Thunderwolves, making six saves for the clean sheet.
 
STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The first goal of the game is an important one for Lubbock Christian, who has gone 12-6 across the last two seasons when scoring first. Conversely, they are 2-7-2 in those two seasons when allowing the first goal. This trend has held through the first four games of the 2021 season, where LCU is 2-0 in games (vs. Adams State and vs. CSU-Pueblo) where they score first and 0-2 when their opponent scores first.   
 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
LCU has already notched a pair of shutouts in the 2021 season, including one in the most recent game against CSU-Pueblo. Coming into the match, the Thunderwolves had shut out their three prior opponents. Chap opponents are averaging 1.50 goals on 9.8 shots per game. Of the 39 total shots they have attempted, only 41 percent (16) have been on target.
 
GAME-WINNERS
With the overtime, game-winning golden goal in the win over CSU-Pueblo coming from Ezequiel Fidabel, there are now six players on the Lubbock Christian roster who have scored game-winners. The other one this season came from Tariq Bakkali, who has two in his career. Ivan Muanze-Bengono also has a pair, while Hector Rodriguez-Cabo and Jonathan Woods have one each. The team-leader in game-winning goals is Fernando Flores with six. Four of those, however, came in his sophomore season (2019).
 
KEEPING UP WITH THE CHAPS
LCU has split goalkeeping time between two players so far this season, with both Braxton Thorne and Ben Pelz starting two games apiece. Pelz started against Fort Lewis and MSU-Denver and has three saves on the year. Thorne has been in goal for the wins over Adams State and CSU-Pueblo, making seven saves in a pair of shutouts. Thorne is also LCU's all-time leader in goalie games played and in saves.
 
HOME ON THE RANGE
Although two got canceled, Lubbock Christian still has five home games left on the 2021 schedule including Wednesday's. LCU was 2-2 on their home field last year, which was their first playing at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex. They averaged 14.2 shots and 2.50 goals per game at the friendly confines, beating Oklahoma Christian and UT Tyler there. All-time, LCU is 45-29-11 in home games, including an 19-14-4 home record under head coach Paul Gilbert.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• Oklahoma Christian also had a game canceled last weekend, losing a scheduled contest against Harding. Their most recent game was a 1-1 draw against No. 17 Rogers State on Sept. 16
• The Eagles are averaging 2.00 goals per game this season, which is tied for the third-most in the Lone Star Conference
• Seven different OC players have scored goals, but the only player to have scored more than once is Alexandre Picoto Rodrigues
• Anthony Trabichet has handled all of the goalkeeping duties for the Eagles, making 16 saves with a save percentage of .762 in 400 minutes of work
• The Eagles were picked to finish last (ninth) in the 2021 LSC Preseason Poll, coming in five points behind eighth-place team Dallas Baptist

 
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD:

• Be the 94^rd win in program history (93-77-21)
• Be the 35^th win in head coach Paul Gilbert's career (34-43-9)
• Be LCU's ninth win over Oklahoma Christian since the series began in 2010 (8-2-1)