| West Texas A&M (4-3-1, 1-0-1) vs. Oklahoma Christian (4-3-1, 1-1) |
| Date |
Wednesday, October 8th | 7:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Canyon, Texas | The Pitch |
| Live Statistics |
Link |
| Watch Live |
FloCollege (Pay-Per-View) |
CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes return to The Pitch on Wednesday night as they welcome the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian for Lone Star Conference action as kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Canyon, Texas.
UT TYLER REWIND
The Buffs scored a pair of late goals with the game-winner coming from
D'Jonte Davis with six minutes remaining on Saturday afternoon to give WT a 2-1 conference win. The victory marked the 900
th career game at the helm of the WT soccer program for
Butch Lauffer.
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES
Oklahoma Christian enters the week 4-3-1 overall with a 1-1 mark in Lone Star Conference action. Last week saw the Eagles fall on the road at UT Dallas (2-1) before answering with a 3-1 victory at home over Dallas Baptist.
Ethan Nakolo leads the way offensively for the Eagles as the sophomore forward from Yukon, Oklahoma has scored 11 goals to go along with an assist for 23 points this season. Nakolo's 11 goals ranks sixth in the nation while leading the Lone Star Conference, his 23 points is ninth in all of NCAA Division II.
OC HEAD COACH NEIL HILTON
Neil Hilton is in his second season at the helm of the Oklahoma Christian men's soccer program. His first season in Edmond saw the Eagles match their most LSC wins (3) since joining the league in 2019. Hilton (2009-12) returned to his alma mater after a stellar four-year playing career as a midfielder for the Eagles back when Oklahoma Christian was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), earning All-Sooner Athletic Conference Second Team honors as a junior and All-SAC First Team honors as a senior.
THE SERIES
WT holds a 14-1-2 advantage in a series that started in 1991. After the Buffs won the first 13 meetings, the two teams drew in 2022 before the Eagles secured a 2-1 win later in the season. Last season saw the two teams battle to a 1-1 draw in Edmond.
WT HEAD COACH BUTCH LAUFFER
Butch Lauffer is now in his 35th season as head men's soccer coach at West Texas A&M. Lauffer is the longest tenured head coach in WT history in a storied career dating back to 1991. Lauffer reached the 500-win plateau on Sept. 30, 2017 with a dominating 13-2 win over UT Permian Basin.
During his tenure, Lauffer coached the men to 31 consecutive non-losing seasons from 1993 to 2023 and the women to 12-plus victories in 12 seasons. Lauffer has recorded a 386-181-60 (.665) record at the helm of the Buffs with a 576-248-76 (.683) overall record at WT.
LSC PRESEASON POLL
West Texas A&M was picked fifth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Midwestern State claimed 16 of the possible 33 first place votes for 338 points to sit atop of the poll followed by St. Mary's (13 first place, 331), St. Edward's (three first place, 297), DBU (241), West Texas A&M (239), Lubbock Christian (169), UT Tyler (161), Oklahoma Christian (134), UT Dallas (104), Texas A&M International (one first place, 86) and Sul Ross State (78).
Arthur Souza of St. Edward's was tabbed the league's Preseason Player of the Year while Luke Mulkey and Johnny Thurbin from St. Mary's claimed Defensive and Goalkeeper Preseason Honors.
