HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The seventh-seeded Railsplitters (7-5-3) open the South Atlantic Conference Championship with quarterfinal round action at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening in Mars Hill, N.C., squaring off against the two-seeded Mars Hill Lions (8-7) at Meares Stadium. The winner advances to the semifinal round, where the winner of No.3 Carson-Newman and No.6 Tusculum awaits in Rock Hill, S.C.
 
Lincoln Memorial aims to snap a streak of five consecutive losses to the Lions, including a 2-1 setback in Mars Hill, N.C. back on September 24. In that contest, the Railsplitters were staked to a 1-0 lead just 4:41 into the contest on a blast from Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil), but the Lions answered 46 seconds later on goal by Thomaz Freitas. Mars Hill went on to score the game-winner in the 82nd minute to hand the Railsplitters their first loss of the 2014 campaign.
 
The Railsplitters and Lions have met in the SAC Championship on three previous occasions with Mars Hill holding a slight 2-1 edge, earning a 1-0 decision in the most recent postseason encounter on November 3, 2010 in Harrogate, Tenn.
 
The Lions average 1.4 goals per game while relinquishing 1.89 goals per match, but that is more indicative of a few anomalous matches than the larger picture of Mars Hill's season. The Lions opened the year with a 1-4 mark, suffering a 5-1 setback to Young Harris as well as a 3-1 loss at Lees-McRae. Despite winning eight of its last 11 matches, Mars Hill did fall in 4-0 fashion at Wingate and 5-0 at home against UNC Pembroke. In South Atlantic Conference play, the Lions ranked fourth in goals with 19 and third in shots per contest with 15.8 attempts while allowing only 14 goals.
 
Mars Hill features five different players with at least three goals this season. Senior Alex Mullen leads the Lions with seven goals, 59 shots and 24 shots on goal to go alongside three assists. Thomaz Freitas, Amine Merdjett, Jack Donaldson and Brayhan Yrio have each accounted for three goals, while Freitas and Merdjett are tied for the team lead with four assists.
 
Junior goalkeeper Chris Mitchell made the start in the regular-season meeting between the two squads, but sophomore Oliver Pannell has since assumed the starting role. In 10 appearances, Pannell has logged 888 minutes played with 32 saves and a 1.93 goals against average. He carries a 5-5 record into Tuesday's match. 
 
In order to advance through the SAC Championship bracket, the Railsplitters will need to break out of a recent offensive funk as they have scored just one goal since October 22. After averaging over 18 shots per match for much of the season, Lincoln Memorial has mustered 12, 9 and 12 attempts in its last three outings. The Railsplitters have combined for only 14 shots on frame over that stretch.
 
Juniors Yinka Lawal (Bromley, England) and Leonardo da Silva, along with senior Yuri Passos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), have produced the better part of the Railsplitters' shot attempts. Despite connecting for just one goal, Lawal leads LMU with 41 shots and 17 shots on goal. Da Silva paces the Railsplitters with six goals on 34 shots and 14 on-target attempts. Passos, meanwhile, has collected two goals and four assists on 33 shots.
 
With 1,393 minutes to his credit, senior netminder Marcel Barwanietz (Berlin, Germany) has compiled 60 saves and a league-leading .779 save percentage. The Berlin, Germany native has allowed 17 goals with 60 saves over that stretch. Barwanietz's seven wins are the second-most among SAC keepers.
 
First kick between the Railsplitters and Lions is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Mars Hill, N.C. The winner advances to Friday's semifinal match in Rock Hill, S.C. to face either No.3 Carson-Newman or No.6 Tusculum. Live stats and video will be available for Tuesday's match against the Lions.

Live Stats
Video

South Atlantic Conference Championship bracket
Tuesday, Nov. 4 (at Higher Seed)
Game 1: #4 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. #5 Anderson, 7:30pm
Game 2: #1 Wingate vs. #8 Coker, 7:30pm
Game 3: #2 Mars Hill vs. #7 Lincoln Memorial, 7:30pm
Game 4: #3 Carson-Newman vs. #6 Tusculum, 7:30pm
 
Friday, Nov. 7 (Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, S.C.)
Game 5: winner game 1 vs. winner game 2, 7:00pm (on field 2)
Game 6: winner game 3 vs. winner game 4, 7:00pm (on field 1)
 
Sunday, Nov. 9 (Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, S.C.)
Game 7: winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 4:00pm (on field 2)