LUBBOCK, Texas (August 27, 2012) - It was a good day of firsts for the Lady Chaparrals of Lubbock Christian University, as they opened their season Monday afternoon at LCU Soccer Field.  Freshman Brooke Wendl scored a pair of goals, including the game winning overtime goal, to lead LCU to a 1-0 victory over University of the Southwest (N.M.) and provide Alex Denning a victory in his LCU coaching debut.

Denning originally recruited Wendl to play for him at Ouachita Baptist before he accepted the LCU coaching job.  She was able to provide him a win in his LCU coaching debut 5:44 into overtime, as she received a lead pass streaking up the middle of the field from Emily Odom and slipped it past USW goalkeeper Pua Silva for the golden goal. Odom connected with Wendl earlier in the game to give LCU a 1-0 lead.  Wendl's first goal came in the 19th minute with a conversion on a breakaway resulting from a lead pass from Odom.

LCU toyed with a shutout for most of the game and used a 20-7 shot advantage to control most of the tempo.  However, USW hung around and attempted to ruin LCU's home opener for a second consecutive season. In the 78th minute, Lainey Esperanza was able to dig the ball out of a scrum and put it past LCU goalkeeper Kayla Wilkinson to tie the game at 1-1 and force overtime.

The Lady Chaps out-shot USW 9-4 in shots-on-goal.  Silva stopped seven of the nine shots she faced in the loss.  Wilkinson stopped two out of three shots she faced and was able to get a defensive team save on a first half scoring chance from a shot in close by Victoria Olivarez.  The final score was no indication of the balance of possession.  LCU was whistled for eight offsides and had eight corner kicks (compared to one by USW).

The win opens the 2012 season for LCU with a 1-0-0 mark.  They are now 2-1-0 all-time in season and home openers.  USW fell to 0-2-0.  The Lady Chaps remain home Thursday and will host McMurry University at 4 p.m. from LCU Soccer Field.
 

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