LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (1-3-0) vs.
FORT HAYS STATE (2-0-2)
Thursday, Sept. 18 – 7 p.m.
FHSU Soccer Stadium – Fort Hays, Kansas
 
CHAPARRAL HEADERS

• Lubbock Christian is headed back out on the road for a pair of games against Kansas opponents, taking on Fort Hays and Newman, both in Hays, Kansas
• Fort Hays enters the weekend ranked No. 20 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, making them the second nationally ranked opponent for the Chaps this season
• LCU's 2024 season featured a win in their only neutral site match, as they beat Hawaii-Pacific 1-0 in a game played at Northwest Nazarene's field in Nampa, Idaho
• Connor Pettigrew played all 360 minutes in goal during the opening weekend of the season, earning a shutout against the Grizzlies opening weekend, which was the ninth of his career
• Newman enters the weekend with a 2-1-1 record, having only lost a match to West Texas A&M

 
SUPER-SHOTS
Lubbock Christian enters the weekend with the fourth-most shots in the Lone Star Conference, having tallied 54 total through four games. That averages out to 13.50 per game. They have put 18 of those shots on goal, or 33.3 percent. Francisco Horta and Manu Nunez co-lead the team in shots with nine apiece, but Pedro Lucas is the team-leader in shots on goal. Eight other LCU players have tallied at least one shot on goal. Lucas is also the team-leader in goals with three. No other Chap has scored multiple times this season.
 
IN THEIR DEFENSE
On the flip side, the Chaparrals have limited opponents to 1.25 goals per game, allowing just five total goals through four games, including one shutout. LCU opponents have totaled 39 shots, or an average of 9.8 per game. They have put 15 of those on goal, or 38.5 percent. Geoffroy Letienne has anchored the LCU back line, leading all LCU field players with 337 minutes of action. Andrea Monticelli and Adam Davison have also played significant minutes on the defense.
 
HE'S A KEEPER
As the last line of defense, Lubbock Christian has used Connor Pettigrew for every minute in goal so far this year. In his 360 minutes of action, Pettigrew has allowed five goals against nine saves. He has a .643 save percentage. In his LCU career, Pettigrew has made 27 appearances, including 25 starts. He has an all-time save percentage of .710, eight career shutouts and a record of 9-11-5.
 
FAIR FOUL
Four games into the season, Lubbock Christian is averaging 8.75 fouls per game, which is the third-fewest in the Lone Star Conference. That mark is also good enough to rank No. 18 in all of Division II. Twice already this season (at ASU, vs. UTD), they have committed just four fouls in a single game. Meanwhile, LCU opponents have committed 47 fouls, or 11.75 per game. The Chaps, however, are tied for the LSC lead in yellow cards with 12.
 
ROAD JOURNAL
LCU is 1-1-0 in road games on the young season. They suffered a season-opening loss at No. 6 Fort Lewis, but bounced back with a shutout win against Adams State. In 2024, the Chaps went 3-3-2 in road games. The last time they had more wins than losses in road games was the 2023 season, when they were 3-1-4. Both games this weekend will be played at the FHSU Soccer Stadium, which was constructed in 2011. It features an artificial turf playing surface and has seating for 500 fans.
 
LOOKING AT THE LONE STAR
Lone Star Conference play for the Chaps begins a week from Saturday with a match against St. Mary's. Through two weeks of non-conference play, UT Tyler leads the way with an .833 winning percentage. St. Edward's and Texas A&M International are both still without a loss as well, but have recorded two ties.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS

• FHSU's Dimitry Tchantcheu was named the Great American Conference's Co-Defender of the Week for helping the Tigers to a 1-0-1 week
• Fort Hays has allowed just two total goals on the season, both of which came in their Sept. 7 draw against MSU Denver
• FHSU has already been shown two red cards this season, one of only 10 teams in the nation with multiple bookings
• Head coach Alex Nichols is in his 12^th season at the helm of the Tiger program, posting an overall record of 177-44-19
• Elias Ovelar Semeniuk is the team leader in points with five

 
A WIN ON THURSDAY WOULD
- Be the 122^nd in Lubbock Christian program history (121-102-39)
- Be the 20th under head coach Collin Cone (19-21-7)
- Be the Chaps' first-ever win against Fort Hays State since the series began in 2015 (0-1-0)