Lady Chaps Continue LSC Play with Match Against St. Mary's

09.22.2023 | By: Alek Child (Alek.Child@LCU.edu)

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Lubbock Christian University women's soccer team returns home to take on St. Mary's Saturday afternoon at the LCU Soccer & Track Facility.

This will be the second Lone Star Conference game for both teams.

Lubbock Christian (4-1-2) vs. St. Mary's (2-1-4)
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 – 1:00 PM
LCU Soccer & Track Facility – Lubbock, Texas

LAST TIME OUT

LCU opened LSC play Wednesday night with a 2-0 win over Eastern New Mexico.
Kenley Blevins and Avery Jennings scored their first goals of the season in the win.
Jennings and Hannah Irons recorded assists against the Greyhounds.

LADY CHAP HEADERS

The Lady Chaps are off to a 4-1-2 start and have not lost since the season opener against Colorado Mesa.
LCU is averaging 1.86 goals per game with an average of 14.3 shots per game.
LCU has outscored their opponents 13 to seven through the first seven games.
The Lady Chap defense is holding opponents to just 8.7 shots per game with a .541 shot on goal percentage.

HOMETOWN HERO

Lubbock native Lexi De La Cruz has been one of the best players in the nation this season.
Lexi ranks first in the Lone Star Conference in goals and shots on goal. She is top-10 in the LSC in assists, shots, points, and game winning goals.
Through the first seven games she has recorded five goals and five assists. Taking 20 shots with 13 shots on goal.

SUPPORTING CAST

Seven Lady Chaps have found the back of the net this season.
Sophomore Graycen Rasmussen and Freshmen Emily Douglas have scored two goals each in 2023.
Avery Jennings, Kenley Blevins, Abby Kone, and Evie Rodriguez have all recorded a goal of their own.
Jennings and Maya Quinones are tied for fifth in the LSC in assists.
Freshmen goalkeeper Kara Murray has started every game in goal for LCU. She is second in the LSC in total saves and fifth in saves per game.

FURTHER BACK

The Lubbock Christian women's soccer program began in 2010 with a 5-2 loss to UT Permian Basin. On Sept. 2, 2021, they recorded the 100^th win in program history, beating New Mexico Highlands 4-1. The Lady Chap program enters the 2023 season with an overall record of 115-84-28.

THE SERIES WITH ST.MARY'S

LCU is 8-3-3 all-time against the Rattlers.
The Lady Chaps went 0-1-1 against St. Mary's last season. Drawing 0-0 on Oct. 29 and losing 3-1 on Nov. 1.

SCOUTING THE RATTLERS

St. Mary's enters Saturday's match with a 2-1-4 record and opened LSC play by defeating UT Tyler 3-1 on Wednesday night.
They have exhibition game wins over Abilene Christian and Texas Southern both NCAA DI programs.
They have outscored opponents 13 to seven in 2023.
They average 1.86 goals per game on 14.9 shots per game.
They have taken 104 shots with 42 being on goal.
Of their 13 goals, 12 have been assisted.
Rattler goalkeeper Rebecca Difronzo has not been challenged much in 2023 only making 14 saves on 22 shots on goal. She has played every minute in goal for St. Mary's. She enters Saturday with a .667 save percentage and 2 shutouts.
The Rattlers are led offensively by the duo of Shelby Paniagua and Sydney Varela. They have both scored three goals this season. Paniagua has added five assists as well.
Juni Ejere and Valerie Hover have scored two goals each.
Alexis Truitt, Elza Cerda, and Kendall Hall have all scored a goal of their own.
The Rattlers are coached by Kevin Driggs who is in his 4^th season.
They finished 2022 with a 12-5-4 (5-3-4) record. They fell 4-0 to DBU in the second round of the LSC Tournament.
They were awarded an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, falling in the first round 2-1 to West Texas A&M.
They were picked 5^th in the LSC Preseason Poll. Juni Ejere, Jackie Miller, and Rebecca Difronzo were named Players to Watch.