CANYON, Texas (September 25, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University led early and had the game tied late, but an 88
th minute goal allowed No. 5 West Texas A&M to escape the upset Saturday at The Pitch.
The Chaparrals fall back to .500 on the season at 3-3 with the loss while WT improves to 6-0. LCU will now turn its attention to Wednesday's game against Midwestern State – which is also ranked in the top-25 – on Wednesday.
Lubbock Christian controlled the ball for much of the first half and had more of the offensive chances.
Kevin Mejias took the game's first shot just two minutes in and
Niklas Neumann fired off another that missed wide in the fifth minute.
Luciano Rodriguez had LCU's first shot on goal in the 23
rd minute, but it was saved.
In the 38
th minute though, the offense broke through. Neumann took the ball out wide and flicked in a cross just before the end line. The cross was short and inside the near post, but right on target to
Pablo Galietero Diez, who re-directed it to the far post past WT keeper Tom Miles, giving the Chaps a 1-0 lead, which they still held at the halftime break.
West Texas A&M did not waste any time evening up the score in the second half, drawing a penalty in the box just two minutes in, which Giancarlo Saldana converted. The Buffs stayed aggressive after the goal, taking several more shots in the next 10 minutes, but only one was on target and it was saved by
Braxton Thorne.
In the 73
rd minute, WT drew another penalty in the box and again Saldana converted, giving them their first lead of the game with just under 20 minutes to play.
With the clock winding down, Lubbock Christian pressed hard to re-tie the game. They finally did so with just 5:01 left in regulation thanks to
Luca Hollenstein, who blasted in his first goal of the season from nearly 40 yards out.
Now needing another goal to secure their sixth-straight win, the Buffs went back on the offensive and had a good chance from Saldana that Thorne made an impressive save on, just pushing the ball over the crossbar. The ensuing corner kick left a bouncing ball in the box though, which Yotam Babul put in the back of the net.
Neumann created one final chance for the Chaps in the 89
th minute with a shot on goal, but Miles made the save to seal the win.
