By: Everett Corder (everett.corder@lcu.edu)


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LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (6-4-2) vs.
TEXAS WOMAN’S (9-2-3)
Wednesday, Oct. 22 – 5 p.m.

LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
 
LADY CHAP HEADERS


After an entire week without a game, including one that got canceled, Lubbock Christian returns home to host Texas Woman’s at 5 p.m. on Wednesday
LCU is coming off a 1-0 loss to UT Dallas at home a week ago, which was just their second loss in Lone Star Conference play this season
Texas Woman’s has only lost twice this season – once against No. 1 Dallas Baptist (4-0) and once at UT Tyler, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat
Junior Casey Storer has anchored the Lady Chap back line that is allowing 1.00 goals per game. She leads the team with 1056 minutes played
Sophomore LCU forward Ella Spiller leads the conference in both points (24) and goals (10) while ranking in the top five in both shots and shots on goal

 
THE DEFENSE DOESN’T REST
The UT Dallas game-winner in the 83rd minute last Saturday broke up LCU’s shutout streak that extended 383 minutes and 24 seconds, all the way back to the Sept. 27 game against UT Tyler. The Lady Chaps are still limiting opponents to 1.0 goals per game this season, which ranks 5th in the LSC. Opposing teams are averaging just 11.0 shots per game and have put only 40.2 percent of those (53) 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 has been a big key to the Lady Chap defensive success, playing all 1080 minutes in goal so far this season. The Longview, Texas, native has allowed just 12 goals against 132 shots faced. She has 40 saves, which is the sixth-most in the LSC, and a save percentage of .769. Her five shutouts are tied for the most in the league. She has an all-time record of 6-4-2 collegiately.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
LCU was held scoreless in the game against UT Dallas, but that has not been a common theme in the 2025 season. Overall, the Lady Chaps are averaging 1.92 goals per game, which is the fifth-best mark in the LSC. They are averaging 15.3 shots per game and have put 45.9 percent of those shots on goal. Nine different LCU players have scored at least one goal this season, including Ella Spiller, Sydney Smith, Mia Chambliss and Lexi De La Cruz with multiple goals.
 
ELLA ENCHANTED
Spiller is not only leading the Lady Chap offense, but has been one of the best offensive players in the conference so far this year. The Coppell, Texas, native leads the LSC in both goals (10) and points (24). Those marks rank fifth and sixth nationally, respectively. She also ranks second in shots on goal (21) and fourth in shots (44). On Oct. 4 against Eastern New Mexico, she scored a hat trick, becoming the first LSC player with a three-goal game this season. 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.
 
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
When sophomore defender Bonnie Miller assisted Spiller’s game-winner against TAMIU, she became the 11th different Lady Chap with at least one assist on the year and brought their season total to 20. That number ranks No. 32 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. 17 nationally, despite Espinoza having only played 510 minutes so far this season.
 
LOOKING AT THE LONE STAR
With just five games left in the regular season, now is as good a time as ever to take a look at the league’s standings. DBU is currently the league leader with a perfect 8-0 LSC record, although Midwestern State is currently tied with them in points with 24. The Lady Chaps currently find themselves in a tie for seventh with St. Edward’s, who they will face on Saturday in Austin. UT Dallas is currently in fourth though, and is not eligible for the league’s postseason tournament as they transition from Division III.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS

Lubbock Christian is 3-2-1 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 PIONEERS


TWU has split time between a pair of goalkeepers with Amanda Farris handling the majority of the time in net
The Pioneers are second in the conference in scoring, averaging 2.50 goals per game so far this season
Babak Abouzar is in his 13th season leading the Pioneer program after previously coaching LCU’s first three seasons of women’s soccer
Giselle Gutierrez is third in the conference in points with 20, having scored eight goals and assisted four others
TWU is 0-1-2 in their last three games, including ties against Texas A&M International and UT Dallas

 
A WIN ON WEDNESDAY WOULD
– Be the 137th  in Lubbock Christian program history (136-102-36)
– Be the 15th under head coach Alistair Caldwell (14-11-5)
– Be the Lady Chaps’ second win against Texas Woman’s since the all-time series began in 2016 (1-2-2)