CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sophomore forward George Burne (Carlisle, England) connected on the only goal of the match to lead the Railsplitters (6-3-2, 3-2-2 SAC) to a 1-0 triumph over the Queens Royals (3-9, 3-4 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action in the waning hour of a wet and rainy Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C.
 
The win was Lincoln Memorial's first over Queens - the defending SAC regular season and tournament champion - since the 2012 season, avenging a 4-1 loss to the Royals in the semifinals of the 2013 SAC Championship.
 
The Railsplitters and Royals combined for 12 shots and 10 shots on goal in the first half of play, but both LMU keeper Marcel Barwanietz (Berlin, Germany) and Queens netminder Montrell Morgan stymied five on-target shot attempts apiece to send the game into the break locked in a scoreless draw.
 
A little over 16 minutes into the second frame, the Railsplitters catapulted into the driver's seat as George Burne collected a deflection off of a nearby defender and found the back of the net to spark LMU to a 1-0 lead. Burne's 62nd minute goal, his second of the season, was assisted by junior striker Yinka Lawal (Bromley, England).
 
Barwanietz and the rest of the Railsplitters' defensive unit made that one-goal advantage hold up over the final 28 minutes. Barwanietz was tested only two more times over that span as Ryan Ejezie placed shots in-between the posts in the 71st and 81st minutes, but the veteran from Berlin, Germany deflected both of those tries to keep the shutout intact. Barwanietz completed his fourth clean slate of the season with seven saves in 90 minutes of action.
 
The Railsplitters scattered 19 total shots and fired 13 shots that landed on target. Burne paced the Railsplitters with seven shots and four attempts on goal, while Lawal and Pedro Villa (New Braunfels, Texas) chipped in two shots on goal apiece. Nick Boegemann (Johnson City, Tenn.), Harry Solomons (Leicester, England) and William Siu (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) contributed two shots each.
 
Lincoln Memorial had a plethora of opportunities to blow the contest open if not for the stellar play of Queens keeper Montrell Morgan, who posted 11 saves while allowing only the one goal.
 
The Railsplitters do not return to the pitch for nearly a week, welcoming the Anderson Trojans to the LMU Soccer Complex for a SAC bout on Saturday, October 18. At halftime of that match, which is slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, LMU will celebrate Senior Day by honoring Marcel Barwanietz, William Siu, Yuri Passos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Lucas Coro (Ribeirao Preto, Brazil).