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LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0-0)\u00a0vs.
\nFORT LEWIS (0-0-0)
\nThursday, August 27 \u2013 7 p.m.
\nLCU Soccer & Track Complex \u2013 Lubbock, Texas
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\nCHAPARRAL HEADERS<\/p>\n
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\n\tThis is the first time Lubbock Christian has opened the season at home since 2024. Last year, the Chaps were 4-4-1 in games at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex
\n\t2026 marks the fourth-straight season that LCU has opened by taking on Fort Lewis. The Chaps are 1-2 in the previous three chances, with their last win coming in 2023
\n\tLubbock Christian is coming off one of its most successful seasons in the NCAA era, as they reached the LSC Championship game in 2025
\n\tLCU returns three conference honorees from a season ago, including All-LSC Second Team selection Joao Catafesta<\/a> and All-Freshman Team picks Adam Davison<\/a> and Jack Brassey<\/a>
\n\tThe two Chaparral captains for this season are Catafesta and Aron DePaula<\/a>, and Carlos Kramer, Augusto Militao<\/a>, and Adam Davison<\/a> round out the rest of the leadership team
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\nPRESEASON PREDICTIONS
\nThe Lubbock Christian University men’s soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, which was released on Tuesday. It is LCU’s highest ranking in the preseason poll since 2022, when they were also picked fourth. Midfielder Alex Lachevre<\/a> was named an Offensive Player to Watch, and fellow newcomer Milo Paci<\/a> was named a Goalkeeper to Watch. One of LCU’s 2026 captains, Joao Catafesta<\/a>, was named a Defensive Player to Watch.
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\nGUESS WHO’S BACK
\nThere are 13 returning players from last year’s 2025 Chaparral squad. Four of those \u2013 Catafesta, DePaula and Davison and Agusto Militao \u2013 played more than 1000 minutes last season. Each of those four also played in all 20 games, although only Catafesta was a starter for every game of the season. Pedro Lucas<\/a> is also back after tallying seven points through the first six games in 2025 before an injury cut his season short. Militao and DePaula are the only two other returners with multiple goals scored last year.
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\nNEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
\nThat leaves room on the roster for 22 brand new LCU players. Of that group, exactly half transferred in from junior colleges or other universities and the other 11 are freshmen. Two of the newcomers have already been recognized as midfielder Lachevre and goalkeeper Paci were LSC Players to Watch. Paci most recently played at Illinois Central College, but has LSC experience at Eastern New Mexico. One new player \u2013 Tom Unwin<\/a> \u2013 transferred from a Division I program, but there are also transfers from every other level of collegiate soccer, including D-III, NAIA and JUCO.
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\nLEADING THE WAY
\nLubbock Christian is under the leadership of head coach Collin Cone<\/a> for the fourth consecutive season. Cone, who came to LCU after four seasons at LeTourneau, has a career record of 55-58-25, including a 27-26-20 showing during his time with the Chaps. He is assisted by Duvan Canchila<\/a>, who also in his fourth season with the Chaps, although this will be only his second as the assistant coach. Rounding out the staff is the graduate assistant goalkeeper’s coach, Diego Berlingeri<\/a>, who is in his second season with the team.
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\nLOOKING BACK
\nThe 2025 season was the most successful of the Cone era. After a slow start to the season, the Chaps won five of their final eight games and tied two others to earn the No. 3 seed in the LSC Tournament. In the postseason, they beat West Texas A&M and St. Edward’s to advance to the league championship, where their magical run came to an end against eventual national champion Midwestern State. LCU allowed just 0.90 goals per game for the season, which was the third-best mark in the league. Geoffroy Letienne<\/a> was named LSC Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All-Region selection.
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\nFURTHER BACK
\nThe Lubbock Christian men’s soccer program dates back to the 2010 season and has an all-time record of 128-107-43. The first three seasons were played in the NAIA, then two transition seasons before the LCU NCAA era began in 2015. In 11 seasons of Division II competition, the Chaps are 77-80-33. The program has seen five head coaches in its 15 seasons of existence. There have been four seasons of double-digit win totals and only four times did LCU finish below the .500 mark.
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\nHOME, SWEET HOME
\nThe Chaps went 4-4-1 at home last season, including wins against Texas A&M International, Oklahoma Christian, Dallas Baptist and West Texas A&M. This is the first of 10 home matches for LCU this season. They have not posted more wins than losses in Lubbock since the 2022 campaign, when they were 4-2-3. 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 men have an all-time record of 61-41-21 in home games. The best season at home was just their second in existence, as they went 8-1-1 in 2011.
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\nSCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS<\/p>\n
\n\tFort Lewis was picked to finish third in the RMAC Preseason Poll after finishing 9-4-4 a season ago with a 5-3-2 league showing
\n\tHead coach David Oberholtzer is entering his 11th season leading the Skyhawks, boasting a record of 84-61-26 while at the helm
\n\tFrancisco into returns to FLC after putting up six goals and six assists for 18 total points in 2025
\n\tFLC averaged 2.65 goals per game in 2025, which lead the RMAC. Their opponents average 1.65 goals per game
\n\tThis will be the fifth time overall for the Skyhawks and Chaps to meet on the pitch, with FLC holding a 3-1-1 advantage in the all-time series
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Story Links
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0-0)\u00a0vs. FORT LEWIS (0-0-0) Thursday, August 27 \u2013 7 p.m.
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