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NO. 3 SEED LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (8-7-4)\u00a0at
\nNO. 1 SEED\/ NO. 8 MIDWESTERN STATE (13-3-3)
\nSaturday, Nov. 15 \u2013 \u00a0Noon
\nStang Park \u2013 Wichita Falls, Texas
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\nCHAPARRAL HEADERS: <\/p>\n
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\n\tLubbock Christian has advanced to the Lone Star Conference Tournament championship game for the second time in program history, taking on Midwestern State at noon on Saturday
\n\tLCU had seven players honored with LSC Postseason awards, including Defensive Player of the Year Geoffroy Letienne<\/a> and Academic Player of the Year Connor Pettigrew<\/a>
\n\tLubbock Christian finished the regular season third in the LSC standings, after being picked sixth in the league’s preseason poll in August
\n\tWhichever team wins Saturday’s matchup will claim the LSC’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament, which starts next week
\n\tThe Chaps and Mustangs met once during the regular season, with Midwestern State winning 2-0 on October 29 at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex
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\nIN THEIR DEFENSE
\nLubbock Christian earned its seventh clean sheet of the season on Wednesday, their most since 2023, when they also had seven. The last time they had more than seven in a season was 2021, when they had 10. The Chaps are allowing just 0.89 goals per game this year, which ranks third in the league. LCU opponents are averaging just 12.9 shots per game and have put only 87 on goal for a shots on goal percentage of .355. If the season ended today, LCU’s goals against average of 0.89 would be the lowest for the team in the last 10 years, which is as far back as data is available.
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\nHE’S A KEEPER
\nPlaying as the last line of defense for every minute of every game this season has been Connor Pettigrew<\/a>, LCU’s graduate student goalkeeper. Winning LSC Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season, he finished the regular season with an conference-high 62 saves and has added eight more in two playoff wins. He has a goals against average of 0.89, seven shutouts and a save percentage of .802. Pettigrew has logged 1,710 minutes in 19 matches for the Chaparrals, which leads the league and is third-most among NCAA Division II goalkeepers. He has played 43 games in his four-year LCU career, posting a career record of 16-15-9.
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\nLCU AT THE LSC TOURNAMENT
\nThis is Lubbock Christian’s fourth appearance in the Lone Star Conference Tournament since joining the league for the 2019-20 school year after a two-year hiatus. They previously reached the postseason in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and they are 4-2-1 all-time at the LSC Tournament. Their win over West Texas A&M in the quarterfinals was their first in the postseason since Nov. 12, 2021. The 2021 season was LCU’s most successful in the tournament, as they won two games and played to a PK shootout in the conference championship game, where Midwestern State claimed the title.
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\nAWARD CENTRAL
\nSeven Chaparrals were recognized on Tuesday for their performance this season with Lone Star Conference Postseason awards. Senior Geoffroy Letienne<\/a> highlighted the group, earning Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection. Four Chaps \u2013 Joao Catafesta<\/a>, Francisco Horta<\/a> Jaramillo, Manu Nunez<\/a> and Connor Pettigrew<\/a> \u2013 were recognized on the All-LSC Second Team. Pettigrew was also named to the All-Academic team for the second-straight year. Adam Davison<\/a> and Jack Brassey<\/a> were named to the league’s All-Freshman team.
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\nOFFENSIVE OUTPUT
\nBecause of the success of their defense, LCU has not often needed a large number of goals to win games, as evidenced by Wednesday’s 1-0 win. The Chaps got that goal via a PK, converted by Letienne, who has now scored three time this season. Overall, LCU averaged just 1.11 goals this season, which is the third-lowest mark in the LSC. The have averaged 13.7 shots per game, putting 39.2 percent of those on goal. Nine different Chaparrals have scored, led by Francisco Horta<\/a> with five. Manu Nunez<\/a> leads the team in assists with five.
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\nON THE ROAD AGAIN
\nLCU went 4-3-3 in road games during the season with wins at Adams State, St. Edward’s (2) and West Texas A&M. 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. Their best season on the road was in 2013, when they went 6-2-0. Stang Park, where the Mustangs have played soccer since 1972, features spectator seating for 1,200 fans and a natural grass playing surface.
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\nLAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
\nThe Chaps and Mustangs faced off in LCU’s second-to-last game of the regular season, with MSU winning 2-0 at the LCU Soccer & Track Complex. LCU led 6-5 in shots on goal, but goals in both halves by MSU earned them the 2-0 win. Liam Pritchard scored the game-winner in the 33rd minute and Liam Kervick found the back of the net in the 83rd minute to ice the game. There were eight yellow cards shown in the match.
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\nSCOUTING THE MUSTANGS<\/p>\n
\n\tMidwestern State is making its seventh consecutive appearance in the Lone Star Conference Men’s Soccer Championship final and seeks its fifth straight title
\n\tThe Mustangs advanced to the tournament final with a 2-0 win against UT Tyler in the semifinals
\n\tMSU has recorded 10 shutouts this season, including seven in their last nine matches
\n\tPritchard was named the LSC Midfielder of the Year and MSU earned the Coaching Staff of the Year
\n\tMidwestern State has earned 11 straight berths in the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship and seeks its 20th all-time appearance this year
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