LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (1-0) vs.
ADAMS STATE (1-1)
Thursday, Sept. 9 – 7 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian won its season-opener against N.M. Highlands last week but was unable to play its second scheduled game of the season against East Central due to COVID-19 concerns
• The Lady Chaps earned the win in the season-opener despite being down a player for the final 76 minutes of play due to an early red card
• Adams State went 1-1 during its opening weekend, falling 2-0 to No. 25 Western Washington before beating LSC member St. Edward's 2-1
• All four goals came from four different players during the first game of the season, and three more LCU players tallied shots on goal in the win
• Megan Mirabal started in goal for the season-opener and made one save en route to earning the first win of her collegiate career

 
SHOT-STOPPERS
Despite being down a player for the majority of their season-opener, Lubbock Christian's defense allowed just the one penalty kick goal while limiting their opponent to only six shots, with only two of those on goal (one being the PK). The Lady Chaps only held their opponents to single-digit shots twice during the nine games of the spring 2021 season, both times against UT Permian Basin. Shadiana Haney led the defense, playing the entire 90 minutes and contributing a pair of shots on goal as well, while Madison Mayben helped out on the back line for 82 minutes.
 
FUN WITH FRESHMEN
A pair of players competing in their first collegiate games were key to LCU's success in their first game of the season. Kenley Blevins had a debut to remember, tallying four points with a goal and a pair of assists. The last time a Lady Chap had four points or more in a game was September 22, 2019, when Haley Knesek, Allison Scott and Celia Duarte all recorded five points apiece. Defender Avery Jennings also got in on the scoring action, netting what ended up being the game-winner just a minute into the second half. Blevins and Jennings are the first two LCU freshmen to score in their first collegiate game since Duarte did it against UC-Colorado Springs on Sept. 5, 2019.
 
TWO MORE
The other two goals scored by the Lady Chaps so far this season were scored by Makenna Pate, who tied the opening game at one apiece, and Arely Jimenez. Pate's goal was the 10^th of her career, making her the third player on the team (Scott, Duarte) to reach double-figures in that category. She also has 10 assists for 27 career points. Jimenez's goal was the fifth of her career, and the junior hit off the post for another score in the game.  
 
HOME ON THE RANGE
Lubbock Christian was supposed to start out the season with three-straight home games, but had last Saturday's contest with East Central canceled. After Thursday night's contest, they will not play at home again until September 22 when they take on Oklahoma Christian. The program is 54-23-11 all-time in home contests and has never had a losing record at home under head coach Alex Denning. The Lady Chaps were 3-2 at home last season, averaging 1.20 goals per game while holding opponents to .80.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
Across the entire 2019 and spring 2021 seasons, Lubbock Christian did not win a game (0-6-1) when their opponent scored first. They have already bucked that trend this year, scoring four unanswered against New Mexico Highlands after falling behind 1-0 early. LCU's last win with an opponent scoring first before that was Oct. 18, 2018, when Dallas Baptist scored first, and the Lady Chaps rallied for three unanswered goals and a win.
 
THOUGHTS ON SCOTT
Senior forward Allison Scott is back for one final season with the Lady Chaps, getting an extra year of eligibility thanks to the NCAA's COVID-19 waiver for fall sport athletes last year. She assisted two goals in the season-opener and looked to have scored once herself before the goal was disallowed for offsides. The Lubbock native already has her name in many spots in the LCU record books, with one season left to improve her standing. She is third all-time in points (63), goals (30) and assists, while ranking second in game-winners (10). She has also played 4,624 minutes, which ranks (9^th all-time) across 67 career games (T-6^th all-time).
 
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES

• Adams State was shut out in their first game of the season against nationally-ranked Western Washington, but they scored twice in their win against St. Edward's. The goals were both unassisted and scored by Madison Hagerty and Carena Harrison
• Grizzly goalkeeper Ashley Beers has already been forced to make 12 saves this season, nine of which came in the Western Washington match
• Colin Baker is in his third season as the head coach of Adams State. Last season, he led the Grizzlies to their first RMAC Tournament appearance in 16 years
• Defender Rachel Boyle is the only field player to be on the field for every minute of action through the first two games
• Adams State were selected to finish ninth join the preseason poll, which is their highest selection in the three seasons under Baker

 
THE SERIES WITH THE GRIZZLIES
Lubbock Christian has faced Adams State two times previously, winning the first meeting in 2014 1-0 and fighting to a 2-2 draw in 2015 in a matchup in Colorado. Madison Boyd and Emily Odom scored the two goals in the last meeting and the Lady Chaps held the lead until the 84^th minute when the Grizzlies tied things up. Brooke Wendl assisted both scores.