ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Lubbock Christian University men's soccer program will play their second game of the 2023 season tomorrow afternoon against Adams State.
Lubbock Christian (1-0) vs Adams State (0-1)
Saturday September 2, 2023 - 3 PM (Central Time)
ASU Lacrosse & Soccer Field – Alamosa, Colorado
LAST TIME OUT
- The Chaps kicked off the 2023 season with a 3-2 win over Fort Lewis Thursday night.
- Tim Miles piled up six saves for the Chaps out of 19 total Skyhawk shots.
- A trio of new Chaps scored in the win, as Saimon Gjeci, Nako Amare, and Pierluigi Paradiso all found the back of the net.
CHAPARRAL HEADERS
- Lubbock Christian's 2023 schedule features 17 total games. They will play nine at home and eight on the road.
- The Chaps ended the 2022 season with a sour taste in their mouths, going 0-3-1 in their final four games. Including, losing a two-overtime thriller to Oklahoma Christian in the LSC Conference Tournament.
- LCU returns seven starters from last year's team. Including, leading goal scorer Pablo Galietero Diez and primary goalkeeper Tom Miles.
- This is the third straight season the Chaps open the season with Fort Lewis and Adams State. LCU routed the Grizzlies 6-1 to open the 2022 campaign and had a 0-0 draw against the Skyhawks two days later.
- The Chap's are 7-6 all-time in season openers.
A LOOK BACK
- The Chaps finished with a 7-8-4 record in their first season under Head Coach Collin Cone. LCU outscored their opponents 25-23 and recorded six shutouts. They entered the LSC Conference Tournament as the four seed, falling to the fifth seed Oklahoma Christian 2-1 in double overtime.
- The Chapparal offense averaged 1.32 goals per game while allowing 1.21.
- Pablo Galietero Diez earned a trio of post season awards in 2022, including second team all-region, first team all-conference, and all-tournament team.
FURTHER BACK
- The Lubbock Christian men's soccer program began in 2010 with a 3-1 win against the University of the Southwest (N.M.). On Nov. 9, 2021, in the opening round of the LSC Tournament, the Chaps won their 100th match in program history, rolling over UT Permian Basin 6-0.
- The Chap program enters the 2023 season with an overall record of 108-89-27.
IN COLORFUL COLORADO
- LCU has played 15 games in program history within the state of Colorado, going 6-9-0 there all time. The first-ever Chaparral trip to the Centennial State was a successful one, as they beat Colorado Christian 5-1 behind a hat trick from Mbongeni Ndlovu on Sept. 11, 2015. They also beat Adams State 2-1 on that 2015 trip.
- Last season, the Chaps went 1-3 in the Centennial State falling 2-0 to Metropolitan State of Denver, 3-1 to UC Colorado Springs, 1-0 to CSU Pueblo, while defeating South Dakota Mines 4-0.
- The Chaps opened the 2023 season in Colorado with a 3-2 win over Fort Lewis.
NEW YEAR, NEW TEAM
- LCU will feature 17 new players on the 2023 roster. Of those new players, four are true freshman, while the other 13 are transfers from either the junior college ranks or other universities. It is a diverse group, with six players from Texas, three from England, two from Italy, two from Spain, and the rest from France and Botswana internationally, along with new faces from Colorado and Arizona in the states.
PRESEASON POLL AND PLAYERS TO WATCH
- The Chaps were picked to finish sixth in the LSC preseason poll after finishing fourth in the conference standings a season ago.
- Along with the preseason poll the LSC announced an offensive, defensive, and goalkeeper to watch on each team throughout the season. For the Chaps Pablo Galietero Diez and Jelle Born were the offensive and defensive representatives, respectively. And Tom Miles was picked as the goalkeeper.
THE SERIES WITH ADAMS STATE
- This will be the sixth meeting between the Chaps and Grizzlies. LCU is 5-0 in the series. In last season's matchup the Chaps routed the Grizzlies 6-1.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
- Adams State dropped their season opener against Eastern New Mexico 4-1 on Thursday. Emmanuel Kolleh scored the lone goal for the Grizzlies.
- Adams State was predicted to finish tenth in the RMAC. Totaling 22 points in the preseason poll. The Grizzlies finished with a 1-15-2 record last season.
- Justin Gilfert returns for his second season as head coach and has brought in over 20 new players to help his squad.
A WIN WOULD
- Give the Chaps their first 2-0 start since the 2021 spring season.
- Extend the Chaps all time series lead to 6-0 against the Grizzlies.
- Give LCU their 111th win in program history.
