WOLFFORTH, Texas (Sept. 27, 2018) – Wins over Lubbock Christian (Texas) have been few and far between for Oklahoma Christian in recent years, but the Eagles earned on Thursday at a critical time of their soccer season.
Matheus Mantovani scored moments before halftime and OC's defense made that goal stand up for a 1-0 win over the Chaparrals in a game played at the Frenship High School Soccer Stadium (which has artificial turf) instead of LCU's home field.
OC (4-4-1, 2-2-1 Heartland Conference) has seven standings points and is third in the Heartland's North Division and tied for sixth overall in the league. The top six teams will advance to the conference postseason tournament.
OC beat Lubbock Christian (4-2-2, 2-1-2) for only the second time in the last 10 meetings against the Chaparrals, and did so despite being outshot 19-13. OC did a solid job of putting its shots on target, though, as the Eagles had eight shots on goal to Lubbock Christian's three.
After
Jonah Basic had almost put OC ahead in the 44th minute – his shot required Lubbock Christian goalkeeper Braxton Thorne to make a strong save – Mantovani did give OC the lead moments later, taking a pass from
Landon Pope to the left of the goal and scoring from about 10 yards out. It was Mantovani's fifth goal of the season, tying him for fourth in the Heartland in that category.
Zourab Tsopourachvili nearly made it 2-0 with a header in the 51st minute, but his shot banged into the post.
Still, the Eagles were able to ride their narrow advantage the rest of the way, although there were a couple of hairy moments near the end. Connor Dean hit the post for the Chaparrals with a shot in the 79th minute, and in the 80th minute, OC goalkeeper
Anthony Trabichet made a sliding save on a shot by Jamal Yates.
Lubbock Christian kept the pressure on until the final moments, taking two corner kicks in the final 61 seconds, but OC's defense held firm. Trabichet made three saves, extending his Heartland-leading season total to 55, while recording his third shutout of the season.
Thorne had seven saves for Lubbock Christian.
OC will be on the road again Saturday, facing Texas-Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas.
