DURANGO, Colo. - Fresh off a season-opening shutout victory over Western Colorado, the Lady Chaps look to continue their winning streak against Fort Lewis College.

Lubbock Christian (1-0) at Fort Lewis (0-1)
Saturday, Aug. 27 – 2:00 p.m.
Dirks Field – Durango, Colo.
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS

• The Lady Chaps enter the contest against Fort Lewis College at 1-0, shutting out Western Colorado 3-0 on Thursday, Aug. 25. It is the first shutout in a season opener for LCU since Aug. 31, 2017, when LCU defeated Texas Permian Basin 4-0 to kickoff the 2017 campaign.
• Lexi De La Cruz scored two goals and tallied an assist in her first match as a Lady Chap. She is the first LCU player to score multiple goals in a match since Haley Knesek did so on Oct. 2, 2019 vs Oklahoma Christian.
• The win over Western Colorado was the Lady Chaps first ever victory over the Mountaineers.
• LCU is now 6-0-1 in their last seven nonconference matches. The Lady Chaps last loss was against Angelo State on Feb. 27, 2021, in a match ruled a nonconference match. LCU's last loss to a team outside of the Lone Star Conference was to CSU-Pueblo on Sept. 7, 2019.
• Despite being listed as a midfielder, Abby Kone got the start in goal against WCU. The freshman from Uvalde, Texas recorded one save and earned her first career shutout victory.
• The Lady Chaps defense held Western Colorado without a shot in the entire second half, the first time LCU has done so to an opponent since Oct. 19, 2019, against Texas A&M-International. Lubbock Christian knocked off the Dust Devils 2-0, outshooting TAMIU 20-1 overall and 8-0 in the first half.

YOU'RE HOT AND YOU'RE COLD
The Lady Chaps 2021 fall season started off hot, with LCU opening the year with a 6-0-2 record, recording four shutouts and outscoring opponents 16-4. The Lady Chaps also upset no. 12 Dallas Baptist 1-0 on Oct. 2, 2021. The second half of the season was not as exciting for LCU, going just 2-7 to end the season, being outscored 13-3 and were shutout six times during that stretch.

ALL THE STARS ARE HERE
Of the 19 goals scored in the Fall 2021 season, 12 of those goals were scored by players who return to Hub City for the 2022 season. Pate leads the way with four goals, while Celia Duarte and Arely Jimenez both tallied a pair of goals last season. Kenley Blevins, Maddie Hoel, Julie Shahi, and Casie Watson all found the back of the net last season for the Lady Chaps.

WELCOME BACK LEXI
Nine new players will make their debut for the Lady Chaps this season. Eight of the new faces for LCU are freshmen, with all eight coming from Texas. Lexi De La Cruz is a sophomore transfer from Howard Payne University. De La Cruz was the American Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year in 2021, leading the conference in points (34), assists (8) and goals (8). The Lubbock native was also named Third-Team All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches Association. De La Cruz immediately made an impact for the Lady Chaps in the season opener, scoring two goals and recording an assist in the 3-0 win over Western Colorado.

SHUT IT DOWN
Since the program's inception in 2010, the Lady Chaps have recorded at least four shutouts in every single season. LCU tallied six shutouts in the 2021 fall season, going 5-0-1 in those contests. With a shutout win over Western Colorado earlier this season, the Lady Chaps have recorded 76 shutouts in program history, compiling a 72-0-4 record in those games. 

PRESEASON PICKINGS
The Lubbock Christian University women's soccer team was picked to finish eighth in the 2022 Lone Star Conference preseason poll. Celia Duarte, Madison Mayben and Megan Mirabal were named players to watch by the conference for the 2022 season.  
- Duarte played in 11 matches last season for the Lady Chaps, scoring a pair of goals and tallying one assist. Her goal against Texas A&M International on Sept. 25 was the game winner over the Dust Devils and gave LCU their first conference win of the season. 
 - Mayben played in and started 15 matches for the Lady Chaps last season. Mayben was a key part of the Lubbock Christian defense that recorded six shutouts, including four in their first eight matches on the way to a 6-0-2 start. 
 - Mirabal started five games in net for LCU last season, finishing the year with a 3-1-1 record. Mirabal earned the win for the Lady Chaps in her first three matches, allowing two goals and recording 11 total saves. She earned her lone shutout of the season against Adams State on Sept. 9, tallying six saves on the way to the 3-0 victory.

THIS IS HOME
In their second year at the new LCU soccer and track & field complex, the Lady Chaps went 4-4-1 at home, opening the season with a 4-1 thrashing of New Mexico Highlands. LCU is now 57-27-12 in home games all-time, and 7-5-1 all-time at the LCU soccer and track & field complex. Lubbock Christian has never had a losing record at home under head coach Alex Denning. The home schedule for 2022 features nine home games in total, including three-straight contests at home from Sept. 4-10.

SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
- FLC was placed 8th in the 2022 RMAC women's soccer preseason poll, drawing 70 points
- Fort Lewis finished the 2021 fall campaign going 5-10-2 with a 3-7-2 record in the RMAC. The Skyhawks fell to top-seeded Colorado Mesa 1-0 in the first round of the RMAC Tournament.
- Damian Clarke is in his second stint as head coach of the Skyhawks. Clarke held the role as head coach for the Skyhawks for seven years from 2007-2013, earning a 106-31-17 record, and a 67-20-11 conference record.  His 128 career victories combined are the most in program history.
- Leading scorer and RMAC All-Honorable Mention Team member Madyson Barela returns to Durango for her junior season. The Rio Rancho, N.M. native finished with five goals and led the team with 11 points last season.
- RMAC All-Honorable Mention member Danielle Gonzales also returns to the Skyhawks. The Broomfield, Colo. native scored three goals and led FLC in minutes played, tallying 1552 minutes on the pitch in her freshman season.
- The Skyhawks opened the 2022 season with a 1-0 loss to Chaminade. Aubrey Swindle recorded three shots for FLC, with all three being on goal.

THE SERIES WITH THE SKYHAWKS
Fort Lewis and LCU have met just once, a 1-0 victory for the Lady Chaps in Wolfforth, Texas on Sept. 3, 2016. Lubbock Christian is 5-7-2 all-time against teams from Colorado, going 3-0-1 in their last four matches against foes from the Centennial State.

A WIN WOULD...
- Give LCU a 2-0 start for the second year in a row
- Be Alex Denning's 95th career victory at LCU
- Be the first true road win of the season

UP NEXT
The Lady Chaps will stay on the road, heading to Las Vegas, N.M. to face New Mexico Highlands on Friday, Sept. 2.