By: Everett Corder (everett.corder@lcu.edu)
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LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (8-6-2) vs.
ST. MARY’S (8-5-3)
Tuesday, Nov. 4 – 5 p.m.
LCU Soccer & Track Complex – Lubbock, Texas
LADY CHAP HEADERS
Lubbock Christian University closes out the regular season on Tuesday, hosting St. Mary’s at 5 p.m. after back-to-back wins last week against West Texas A&M and Oklahoma Christian
With Saturday’s win against OC, Lubbock Christian has already clinched a spot in the Lone Star Conference Tournament, but Tuesday’s match is important for seeding and the chance to host
Bonnie Miller found the back of the net late in the win against Oklahoma Christian becoming the 12th different LCU player to score this season
St. Mary’s has played five straight matches without a loss, including wins in each of their last three contests – against Eastern New Mexico, Texas A&M International and UT Permian Basin
Junior Casey Storer has anchored the Lady Chap back line that is allowing 1.07 goals per game. She leads the team with 1416 minutes played
LOOKING AT THE LONE STAR
This is the final game of the 2025 regular season, but that in no way means things have already been decided. In fact, Tuesday’s game is important for both teams competing for the exact same reason. Although they already clinched a playoff spot, LCU is in eighth currently, right behind St. Mary’s. If the Lady Chaps win, they will jump the Rattlers for the seven seed and host a first round game in the LSC Tournament at 7 p.m. on Friday. If the game ends in a tie or an LCU loss, St. Mary’s will host the matchup. DBU has already won the league and claimed the one seed, boasting a 16-0 record overall.
THE DEFENSE DOESN’T REST
Lubbock Christian shut out Oklahoma Christian on Saturday, notching their sixth clean sheet of the season, which matched their total from a season ago. The last time they had more than six in a season was 2022, when they had eight. The Lady Chaps are allowing an average of 1.00 goals per game, which is tied for the fifth-best mark in the Lone Star Conference. LCU opponents average 11.3 shots per game, putting just 40.6 percent of those on goal.
IN THE WRIGHT PLACES
Junior goalkeeper Emma Wright has been a big key to the Lady Chap defensive success, playing all 1440 minutes in goal so far this season. The Longview, Texas, native has allowed just 16 goals against 180 shots faced. She has 56 saves, which is the ninth-most in the LSC, and a save percentage of .758. The seven saves she made last Wednesday against WT were one shy of her season high. Her six shutouts are tied for the most in the league. She has an all-time record of 8-6-2 collegiately.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
It took until the final 15 minutes of the match for the breakthrough to finally come, but the Lady Chaps once again scored the first goal of the match in the game they went on to win. They remain undefeated this season in games in which they score first – a perfect 8-0-0 record in those contests. Bonnie Miller had the initial (and only) tally for LCU in Saturday’s game. Riley Espinoza and Sydney Smith have both scored opening goals, and the other five have come from Ella Spiller. LCU is still looking for its first comeback win of the season, but has responded to tie a pair of contests in which they faced a deficit (0-6-2).
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
LCU scored twice in the win over the Lady Buffs last Wednesday, marking the first time they scored multiple goals in a game since Oct. 4, when they matched their program record with seven against Eastern New Mexico. Overall, the Lady Chaps have been one of the better offensive teams in the LSC this season, averaging 1.69 goals per game, which ranks seventh among league teams. They are averaging 15.6 shots per game and have put 47.8 percent of those shots on goal, including a season-high 15 on Wednesday. Eleven 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 is third in the LSC in goals (10) and sixth in points (25). She also ranks ninth in shots and eighth in shots on goal. 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 far 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.
WHERE THE HEART IS
Lubbock Christian is 4-3-1 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 two 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 70-36-23 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 RATTLERS
Head coach Kevin Driggs is in his sixth season coaching the Rattlers
St. Mary’s averages 2.06 goals per game, and they also rank fifth in goals against average at 1.38
Elana Kossler leads the Lone Star Conference in goals scored this season with 13, and Shelby Paniagua is tied for third with 10
Haley Faucette has handled most of the goalkeeping for the Rattlers, posting a save percentage of .765 and a goals against average 1.38
St. Mary’s averages 10.25 fouls per game, which is the third-most of all conference teams
A WIN ON TUESDAY WOULD:
– Be the 139th in Lubbock Christian program history (138-104-36)
– Be the 17th under head coach Alistair Caldwell (16-13-5)
– Be the Lady Chaps’ 9th win against St. Mary’s in the all-time series which started in 2010 (8-6-4)