PORTALES, N.M. (October 4, 2025) — Lubbock Christian University shut out Eastern New Mexico University 7-0 on Saturday at Al Whitehead Field at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium.
The Lady Chap offense surged with six second-half goals, including a hat trick from
Ella Spiller, while maintaining a strong defense as their goalkeeper recorded a clean sheet with one save.
Lubbock Christian improved to 5-3-2 overall and 3-1-2 in conference play after their decisive win. Eastern New Mexico remained winless at 0-8-0 overall and 0-5-0 in conference matchups.
The first half began with Lubbock Christian applying early pressure against Eastern New Mexico, resulting in two rapid shots by
Ella Spiller and
Claire Jacobson, both saved by the opposing goalkeeper. The Lady Chaps maintained their attacking momentum and broke through when Spiller scored in the 13th minute, assisted by
Lauren Rotan, giving the visiting team an early lead.
Eastern New Mexico attempted to respond with a series of shots and corner kicks, but goalkeeper
Emma Wright's save and the defensive efforts by the Chaps kept the home team scoreless. As the half progressed, Lubbock Christian continued to push forward, although they were caught offside multiple times. The half concluded with LCU holding a 1-0 advantage.
The second half is where the LCU offense really began firing on all cylinders, as
Sydney Smith opened the scoring for the half just eight minutes in, assisted by Spiller, extending the Chaps' lead to 2-0. Just a few minutes later,
Casey Storer added another goal to make it 3-0.
The momentum continued as
Riley Espinoza found the back of the net in the 63rd minute, pushing the lead to 4-0. The Lady Chaps maintained offensive pressure, with Spiller scoring another goal in the 73rd minute, with assists from
Anna Brandt and Espinoza. By the 77th minute, Brandt and Spiller had both added goals, bringing the score to 7-0.
Lubbock Christian's defense held strong, preventing Eastern New Mexico from converting any of their attempts, and the half closed with a decisive 7-0 victory for the Lady Chaps.
Spiller recorded a hat trick along with one assist, leading Lubbock Christian with eight shots, five of which were on goal. Brandt contributed a goal and an assist, capitalizing on her single shot on target. Storer and Smith each added a goal, both converting their only shots into goals. Wright secured the shutout with one save, facing seven shots throughout the match.
GAME NOTES:
- LCU's seven goals were their most in a single game since Sept. 22, 2019, when they beat UT Permian Basin 11-0.
- Spiller's hat trick was the first by a Lady Chap since Sept. 2, 2022, when
Lexi De La Cruz scored three goals against New Mexico Highlands.
- Brandt, Espinzoa and Storer's goals were all their first this season, giving LCU nine different players with at least one score this year.
- Spiller now has 22 points on the season, surpassing her freshman year total of 17 and taking the Lone Star Conference lead in that category.
- The seven points from Spiller are the most in a single game by a Lady Chap since Sept. 3, 2015, when Brooke Wendl had eight (four goals) against Southwest (N.M.).
NEXT UP:
Lubbock Christian will be on the road again for their next match, heading to Laredo to take on Texas A&M International at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
