Game Notes
 
CANYON, Texas -- The No. 14-ranked Buffaloes of West Texas A&M are set to matchup against Chaminade University in Nampa, Idaho on Thursday. The non-conference game starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwestern Nazarene University Soccer Field.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Buffs and Silverswords have never met on the soccer field as Thursday's matchup starts the all-time series between WT and Chaminade.
 
SCOUTING CHAMINADE
The Silverswords opened their 2022 campaign with a 3-0 loss to Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday. Last year, Chaminade finished with a 3-11 overall record, going 1-9 in the PacWest. Brandon Yasue, the Silverswords returning minutes leader, leads the back line from his goalkeeper position.
 
BUTCH LAUFFER
Butch Lauffer is in his 32nd season as head men's soccer coach at West Texas A&M University. As the longest tenured head coach in WT history, Lauffer has coached the men to 29 consecutive non-losing seasons and the women to 12-plus victories in 12 seasons. Lauffer has recorded a 365-160-41 (.698) record at the helm of the Buffs with a 554-227-58 (.690) overall record at WT.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Buffs picked up their first win of the season against Seattle Pacific. The Falcons, who were receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll at the time, scored the game's opening goal on a free kick in the 13th minute. As the half was winding down, Anthony Perea stepped up and leveled the score on a penalty of his own. In the second half, Giancarlo Saldana scored on a pass from Payne McKiver to give WT its first lead of the game. Seven minutes later, Denis Herrera scored off a free kick from a sharp angle to put the Buffs up two. Seattle Pacific attempted to mount a comeback after a goal in the 80th minute, but the WT defense held the Falcons off as the time ticked down.
 
LSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After helping the Buffs to a draw against Western Washington in Bellingham, Anthony Perea netted the Buffs' first goal against Seattle Pacific on Saturday. Perea's performance against the two teams earned him LSC weekly honors for the second time during his time at WT.
 
NATIONAL STANDINGS
West Texas A&M men's soccer ranked 14th in the first regular-season United Soccer Coaches Division II Top-25 Poll. Cal State-LA topped the national standings followed by Palm Beach Atlantic, Franklin Pierce, Mercyhurst, and Indianapolis.
 
COMING UP
WT stays in Nampa to take on Northwestern Nazarene on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. at the NNU Soccer Field.