LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (6-3-2) at
UT DALLAS (7-2-1)
Saturday, Oct. 11 – 1 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS

• After back-to-back road wins at Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M International, Lubbock Christian returns home for a meeting with the team right behind them in the league standings
• LCU has won three straight games for the first time since Sept. 25 – Oct. 2 of 2021 and is trying for four straight wins for the first time since 2019 when they won seven straight games to close out the regular season
• The Comets are coming off just their second loss of the season, suffering a 4-1 defeat to Dallas Baptist on Wednesday
• Junior Casey Storer has anchored the Lady Chap back line that is allowing 1.00 goals per game. She leads the team with 966 minutes played
• Sophomore LCU forward Ella Spiller was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week for games played Sept. 29-Oct. 5

 
THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST
In Wednesday night's win at Texas A&M International, Lubbock Christian kept the Dustdevils without a goal, notching their third-straight shutout and fifth of the season. The Lady Chaps are limiting opponents to 1.0 goals per game this season, which ranks 5^th in the LSC. Opposing teams are averaging just 11.5 shots per game and have put only 40.5 percent of those (51) on goal. LCU has not allowed more than nine shots on goal in any single game this season, and earlier this year kept Sul Ross State without a single attempt on frame in a game.
 
IN THE WRIGHT PLACE
Junior goalkeeper Emma Wright played a major role in the shutout on Wednesday, making seven saves against the Dustdevils. That number is one off her season and career-high, which she set earlier this season against Angelo State. She has played all 990 minutes of action for the Lady Chaps this year. The Longview, Texas, native has allowed just 11 goals against 126 shots faced. She has 39 saves, which is the fourth-most in the LSC, and a save percentage of .780. She has an all-time record of 6-3-2 collegiately.
 
ELLA ENCHANTED
Sophomore forward Ella Spiller had the game's only goal against TAMIU. She has 10 total goals and along with her four assists has tallied 24 points. Her point and goal totals both lead the LSC and rank sixth and fifth nationally, respectively. She has already surpassed her goal (5) and point (17) totals from her freshman season, when she was named to both the All-Region and All-Conference Second Teams. Four of her goals have been game-winners. In her 916 minutes of playing time, she has 42 total shots, 19 of which have been on goal.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
Spiller was so good last week that her performance earned her LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Coppell, Texas native had a hat trick and two assists to lead the Lady Chaps to a 2-0 week against UT Permian Basin and Eastern New Mexico. Her three-goal game – which included the game-winner – came on the road against ENMU and was coupled with an assist. It was the first seven-point match and just second hat trick in the LSC this season. Spiller assisted on the only goal in the match against UTPB.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
In last Saturday's win against Eastern New Mexico, Lubbock Christian racked up a whopping seven goals, which was their most in a single game since Sept. 22. 2019, when they scored a program-record 11 goals against UT Permian Basin. The Lady Chaps are now averaging 2.09 goals per game on the season, which ranks fourth in the LSC. They have amassed 168 shots, 45.2 percent of which have been on goal. Anna Brandt, Riley Espinoza and Casey Storer all scored their first goals of the season against the Greyhounds, giving them nine different players with at least one goal this year.
 
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
Sophomore defender Bonnie Miller assisted Spiller's game-winner against the Dustdevils – her first of the season. She became the 11^th different Lady Chap with at least one assist on the year and brought their season total to 20. That number ranks No. 27 in Division II and is third-best in the LSC. Riley Espinoza, Spiller, Journey Curs and Lauren Rotan all have multiple assists this year, led by Espinoza's five. That mark is second in the LSC and ranks No. 11 nationally, despite Espinoza having only played 455 minutes so far this season.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS
Lubbock Christian is 3-1-1 at the friendly confines so far this year, with wins against CSU-Pueblo, Sul Ross and UT Permian Basin. Including Saturday's game, they have five home games left this season. Last season they wen 4-3-2 on at their home field. The LCU Soccer & Track Complex was completed in August of 2020 and features an AstroTurf playing surface, a Musco lighting system to allow for night games and stadium seating for 500 fans. LCU's women's team has an all-time record of 70-35-23 all-time in home games. They have only posted losing records at home twice in 15 seasons. They did not lose a home game in 2015 (7-0-2) and won a program-high eight home games in 2019 (8-1-1).
 
SCOUTING THE COMETS

• This is the first season for UT Dallas to compete as a member of the Lone Star Conference as they transition from Division III, meaning they are not eligible for postseason play
• McKenzie Hunninghake has handled almost all of the goalkeeping duties for the Comets, posting a save percentage of .714
• Stephen Shirley is in his third season leading the UTD program, posting an overall record of 24-11-9 in that time
• Junior forward Gabby Thompson ranks second in the LSC in goals scored with nine
• UT Dallas is averaging 2.30 goals per game this season, which is the third-best mark in the Lone Star Conference

A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD
- Be the 137th  in Lubbock Christian program history (136-101-36)
- Be the 15th under head coach Alistair Caldwell (14-10-5)
- Be the Lady Chaps' first-ever win against UT Dallas, as this is the first-ever meeting between the two teams