Chaps Battle #14 Southern Nazarene on the Road Saturday Afternoon

09.13.2024 | By: Alek Child (Alek.Child@LCU.edu)

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Lubbock Christian University men's soccer team continues their Oklahoma road trip as they travel to Bethany to take on 14^th ranked Southern Nazarene on Saturday afternoon.

Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. from Wes Harmon Field at Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex. and will be streamed live on SNU's YouTube page.

Notes:

The Chaps are off to a 1-1-1 start in 2024 after a 0-0 draw against Northeastern State on Thursday night. The Chaps put three shots on goal in the tie against the RiverHawks.
Last season's leading goal scorer, Saimon Gjeci and Kansas City C.C. transfer Geoffroy Letienne are the only Chaps to find the back of the net through three games.
Connor Pettigrew has started all three games in goal for the Chaps, tallying 17 total saves and securing two shutouts. The Frisco, Texas native is leading the Lone Star Conference in both categories.
Lubbock Christian is coming off a 6-4-7 season in 2023, the most draws in a season in LCU program history. The Chaps return two of their top four point scorers from last season, including leading goal scorer Gjeci (six goals).
The Chaps were picked to finish sixth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll.
Saturday marks the fifth meeting all-time between LCU and SNU. The Chaps have controlled the series holding a 3-1 record over the Crimson Storm. The most previous matchup came in 2019 when LCU secured a 2-1 victory in Bethany.

Scouting Southern Nazarene:

Southern Nazarene enters Saturday's match ranked 14^th in the United Soccer Coaches National poll.
The Crimson Storm are 1-1-1 this season following a 0-0 draw against fellow LSC opponent Oklahoma Christian on Wednesday.
SNU was picked to win its fourth-straight GAC title in the conference's preseason poll.
The Crimson Storm return a dynamic duo on the offensive end in reigning GAC Player of the Year Unaiz Shajani and Newcomer of the Year Francisco Chong. . Shajani led the conference with 13 goals and tied for the league lead with 32 points. Chong delivered stellar play from his midfield position and contributed a goal and an assist. They brought back additional All-GAC selections in defender Esteban Ramirez and goalkeeper Andrej Krivokapic. Krivokapic ranked second in the league in goals-against average and shutouts.
SNU finished the 2023 season with an 14-5-2 record winning the GAC regular season and tournament titles but fell 1-0 to McKendree in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Four different Crimson Storm have found the back of the net in 2024, as Axel Agurcia, Lucas Beja, Unaiz Shajani, and Niklas Stalzer have all scored.
Krivokapic has tallied eight saves on 40 shots faced this season.
The Crimson Storm is coached by Trevor Harmon who enters his 7^th season at the helm.