COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team will open Lone Star Conference play this week as they host Lubbock Christian and UT Permian Basin.
 
Game 1: A&M-Commerce (3-1-1) vs. Lubbock Christian (3-2-0)
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
 
Game 2: A&M-Commerce vs. UT Permian Basin (0-3)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 28 at Noon
 
WHERE: The Lion Soccer Field in Commerce, Texas
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: http://lonestarconferencenetwork.com/commerce
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions are coming off of a 3-0 shutout against East Central on Saturday. Head coach Neil Piper liked how his defense played in the game, especially in the middle of the field to win balls in the air.
 
"It was a tough game," he said. "East Central is a tough team to play, especially at their place. I would not say they packed it in but they always seemed to have numbers back. Our midfielders did a good job of winning balls in the air and starting the attack. East Central didn't create too many chances but the midfield won the aerial battles and made life easier for us going forward."
 
The Lions were also able to net a trio of goals in the match. Piper liked seeing his team be able to score a couple of goals out of set pieces.
 
"The first goal was fortunate," Piper said. "It took a couple of deflections and really could have gone anywhere. It just happened to go in. The second and third goals came off of set pieces and we capitalized. It was good. Leslie [Campuzano] and Skylar [Sorrell] did a good job up front, with their work and their energy. They kept East Central running all day. It's hard to score against them. Luckily we got some set piece goals in the second half to put it away."
 
The Lions now enter conference play, facing an unfamiliar conference opponent. The Lions have met Lubbock Christian just once in their history (2015 in Commerce). Piper knows it will be a tough challenge to begin conference play with the way LCU has been scoring goals so far this year.
 
"I know Lubbock Christian is a good athletic team," he said. "They like going forward in numbers. I have not seen them play too many times in the last couple of years because obviously we have not played against them. But this year, they are putting up goals. They are similar to us. They are athletic and wide, and have some strong players in the middle. And they run set pieces as well. I'm looking forward to the game."
 
The Lions will then face UT Permian Basin, a familiar conference foe. While not looking ahead, Piper is glad that game is at home.
 
"I'm glad we have them at home," he said. "That's always a tough place to go. We play against them better when we play them at home. Hopefully we have a good result on Saturday."
 
Tickets to all Lion home matches are available for purchase at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756 , by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House during business hours, or by purchase at the gates of the Lion Soccer Field.