LUBBOCK, Texas - The Lubbock Christian University women's soccer team welcomes regional opponent Adams State to the Hub City Saturday evening.
Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex and will be streamed live on
FloFC with Brennan Riker on the call.
Senior Day:
The Lady Chaps will recognize six seniors prior to kickoff of Saturday's match. Seniors
Megan Mirabal,
Cooper Cowan,
Avery Jennings,
Lexi De La Cruz,
Olivia Weider, and
Stephanie McClung will be honored. Senior day festivities will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. with kickoff to follow.
Notes:
- The Lady Chaps opened the 2024 season with a 1-1 draw against Fort Lewis Thursday night. After a scoreless 52 minutes, Emma Best looped a pass into the penalty box that Ella Spiller corralled and poked past the goalkeeper to give the Lady Chaps a 1-0 lead. This was the first goal of Spiller's collegiate career.
- On Thursday night, Emma Wright made her first career start in goal for LCU. She recorded seven saves for the Lady Chaps out of 18 total Skyhawks shots.
- Head Coach Alistair Caldwell enters his first season at the helm of the Lady Chaps. Prior to being hired on April 8, Caldwell was the Head Coach at Lubbock's Coronado High School. In a little over seven years at the helm, Caldwell led the program to five District titles and four Regional Tournament appearances. With the girl's program, he finished with a 145-37-14 overall record. Joining him on the sidelines are assistant coaches Houston Fralick and Joao Souza.
- Lexi De La Cruz, Kenley Blevins, and Kara Murray were named Players to Watch by the Lone Star Conference on Aug. 28. De La Cruz was named to the All-LSC second team in 2023 after racking up nine goals and six assists for LCU. Blevins was an All-LSC third team selection a year ago, appearing in 15 games, starting 14 times with a goal and an assist. Murray anchored the Lady Chaps in goal last season, starting all 17 games with a 1.19 goals-against average.
- Lubbock Christian is coming off a 7-7-3 season in 2023, dropping three of their last four games. The Lady Chaps return three of their top four point scorers from last season in De La Cruz (24 points), Evie Rodriguez (five points), and Avery Jennings (four points).
- LCU will feature 11 new players on the 2024 roster, all of which are true freshmen.
- The Lady Chaps were picked to finish eighth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll.
- The Lady Chaps are undefeated all-time against Adams State, holding a 2-0-1 series record. The two teams last met in 2021 in Lubbock, the Lady Chaps dominated the match winning 3-0.
Scouting Adams State:
- Adams State opened the 2024 season on the road against fellow LSC member Eastern New Mexico on Thursday night. The Lady Grizzlies and Greyhounds played to a 1-1 draw. Karlee Caballero scored the lone goal for ASU, she was assisted by Denali Levin.
- In 2023, Adams State finished the season with a 3-9-5 overall record and a 2-7-3 RMAC mark, finishing 10th in the conference.
- The Lady Grizzlies return both of their top goal scorers from a season ago in Colette Tena and Karlee Caballero, both scoring three goals in 2023. Top point scorer Athena Huggins also returns for ASU, she was responsible for two goals and three assists last season.
- Starting all but one game last season, RMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention goalkeeper Ashlyn Bartley will look to anchor the Lady Grizzlies defense.
- The Lady Grizzlies were picked to finish ninth in the RMAC preseason poll, earning 49 points in the poll.
- Adams State is coached by Alex Greco who is in his 3rd season at the helm. He owns a 5-21-8 overall record at ASU.
A Win Would:
- Be the first win of the Coach Caldwell era.
- Bring LCU's season record to 1-0-1.
- Give the Lady Chaps their 123rd win in program history.
