HARROGATE, Tenn. -- With the South Atlantic Conference title still within striking distance, the Lady Railsplitters (8-2-1, 6-1-1 SAC) take to the LMU Soccer Complex pitch one last time for a South Atlantic Conference clash with the Tusculum Pioneers (8-5-1, 4-3 SAC) Wednesday. Lincoln Memorial's regular season home finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Harrogate.
 
The Lady Railsplitters extended their streak of consecutive matches without a loss to eight on Saturday afternoon, nabbing a 1-0 win over Anderson thanks to an 82nd minute goal by senior defender Kristen Cook (Little Rock, Ark.). The goal was her first of the 2014 campaign and only the second of her career, as she notched her first score in the Blue and Gray in 2012.
 
Since dropping two of its first three matches this season, Lincoln Memorial has been among the hottest teams in the South Atlantic Conference, compiling a 7-0-1 record since September 17. On the wings of that flurry, the Lady Railsplitters have positioned themselves just two points out of first place. LMU is currently tied for second in the SAC standings with Newberry and Wingate, as that trio is chasing first-place Lenoir-Rhyne, who sits at 7-1 in league play.
 
The Pioneers arrive in Harrogate having dropped back-to-back 1-0 decisions to Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba in Greeneville, Tenn. Prior to that, Tusculum recorded three straight wins over Brevard, Anderson and Lees-McRae behind back-to-back-to-back four-goal outbursts. The Pioneers have produced 23 total goals this season with 190 shots and 93 shots on goal in 14 appearances. Tusculum ranks fifth in the SAC in goals for average with 1.6, but the visitors from Greeneville are one of five teams in the league (along with the Lady Railsplitters) allowing less than a goal per game.
 
Junior Taylor Lewis and sophomore Shannele Sunderland have combined for 11 of Tusculum's 23 goals this season. Lewis has pitched in six goals, two assists, 35 shots and 14 shots on goal, while Sunderland has scored five times with 13 shots on target. Freshman Peyton DeHart is among the team's point leaders with three goals and four assists. The Lady Railsplitters must also be wary of junior Gabrielle Whitt, who has registered a team-leading 15 shots on goal despite breaking through for only one goal.
 
In net, Tusculum features senior keeper Marissa Williams, who has accumulated 44 saves and a 1.11 goals against average over 890:49 minutes this season. Wednesday's match-up marks the fifth time that Williams has faced the Lady Railsplitters as the netminder has relinquished only four goals with 16 saves in the four previous head-to-head encounters.
 
The Lady Railsplitters counter with a defense that has been even stingier than the Pioneers'. Lincoln Memorial holds a 0.88 goals against average with only 10 goals allowed this season, three of which were scored by Carson-Newman while the Lady Railsplitters played a man down. Lincoln Memorial has shut out four of its last five opponents.
 
Offensively, the Lady Railsplitters are led into Wednesday's home finale by sophomore Michelle Hunter (Tecumseh, Ontario) and senior Fernanda Miaci (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil), as that duo has contributed six goals apiece. Nicole McKinney (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Kadie Soall (Tecumseh, Ontario) have scored two goals apiece, while five different players have tallied a single goal. The Lady Railsplitters' 17.0 shots per game are the third-most among South Atlantic Conference teams.
 
Wednesday stands as the 25th all-time meeting between the Lady Railsplitters and Pioneers. Tusculum holds a 13-9-2 edge in the series, propped by a 7-1-1 mark since November 11, 2007. Lincoln Memorial's only win over the Pioneers over that stretch was a 2-1 double overtime victory in Greeneville during the 2011 campaign.
 
The Lady Railsplitters and Pioneers are scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. at the LMU Soccer Complex. The LMU Sports Network will be providing a free, live broadcast of that match with pre-game coverage beginning at 12:45.

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