LUBBOCK, Texas – The Lubbock Christian University women's soccer kicks off their 2023 home schedule Saturday, Sept. 9, welcoming New Mexico Highlands to the LCU Soccer & Track Facility for Senior Day.
New Mexico Highlands (0-1) at Lubbock Christian (1-1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 9 – 1 PM
Lubbock, Texas – LCU Soccer & Track Facility
LAST TIME OUT
- LCU is coming off their first win of the season beating Regis 3-2 on Wednesday (Sept. 6).
- Freshman Kara Murray made an astounding 10 saves against the Rangers.
- Lexi De La Cruz scored five points in the match, scoring two goals and assisting Freshman Emily Douglas for a goal.
- Freshman Emma Best added an assist for the Lady Chaps, the first of her career.
LADY CHAP HEADERS
- The Lady Chaps will recognize three seniors during halftime of the match: Hannah Irons, Stephanie McClung, and Casie Watson.
- This will be the first home game of the season for the Lady Chaps. They went 3-1-6 last season at the LCU Soccer & Track Facility.
- The Lady Chaps are 9-1-5 in their last 15 nonconference matches.
DAZZLING DE LA CRUZ
- The 2022 D2CCA Second Team All-Region Team Member, Lexi De La Cruz has picked up where she left off last season. She has scored or assisted on three of the four Lady Chap goals in 2023. Last season she totaled eight goals and an assist earning her LSC First Team All-Conference Honors.
FLASHY FRESHMEN
- Seven Freshmen have seen action for the Lady Chaps in 2023. This includes goalkeeper Kara Murray who has started in goal every game for LCU. Murray has made 19 saves and has a save percentage of .760. Emily Douglas and Emma Best have also started every game for the Lady Chaps. Douglas scored her first career goal against Regis on Sept. 6. Best added an assist in that match.
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 100th 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.
PRESEASON PICKINGS
- The LCU women's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll. Graycen Rasmussen and Kenley Blevins were named players to watch for the 2023 season.
- Rasmussen picked up a pair of all conference honors in her first season as a Lady Chap. She was named to the LSC All-Conference Third Team and the All-Freshmen team. She ranked top-10 in the LSC in shots, shots on goal, and points. She was tied for the team lead in assists with 3. She appeared in 17 contests, starting in 10 of them. Rasmussen recorded 6 goals in 972 minutes of playing time.
- Blevins started in all 19 games for the Lady Chaps in 2022. Her lone goal of the season came against Oklahoma Christian on Sept. 21. She recorded 8 shots with 3 on goal in a total of 1,710 minutes of playing time.
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
- LCU will feature 14 new players on the 2023 roster. Of those new players, 10 are true freshmen and four are transfers from other universities. The four transfers include Cooper Cowan (Arkansas State), Olivia Weider (Emmanual), Reagan Easter (UT Tyler), and Duschka Diaz (Oklahoma Baptist).
THE SERIES WITH NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
- The Chaps have a 2-0 all-time record against the Cowgirls.
- In 2022, the Lady Chaps routed New Mexico Highlands 5-0.
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
- NMHU enters Saturday's match with a 0-1 record after falling to Eastern New Mexico 2-1 on Sept. 6.
- Katy Rayner scored the lone goal for the Cowgirls.
- The Cowgirls were picked to finish last in the RMAC preseason poll.
- Last season they finished with a record of 1-15.
- The Cowgirls are coached by Bianca Contreras-Edwards. 2023 marks her fifth season at the helm.
A WIN WOULD
- Give the Lady Chaps a second consecutive win.
- Bring the Lady Chaps record to 3-0 all-time against the Cowgirls.
- Be the 117th win in program history.
