HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The 25th-ranked Railsplitters (4-0) pitched a 2-0 shutout against the visiting North Georgia Nighthawks (1-4) in non-conference NCAA Division II men's soccer action on Wednesday at the LMU Soccer Complex.
 
Lincoln Memorial improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2010 and only the second time since 2005, tallying its third shutout through the first four matches of the season, a feat accomplished by the program only two times since the turn of the century. The Railsplitters have now outscored their opponents 8-1 to start the season.
 
After what had been a mostly sporadic first half with neither team establishing a firm grip on the match, the Railsplitters found a foothold in the 39th minute as sophomore Nick Boegemann (Johnson City, Tenn.) headed home a cross from classmate Harry Solomons (Leicester, England). It was the first goal of Boegemann's career on only the fourth shot of his two-year stead in the Blue and Gray. Prior to the Johnson City, Tenn. native's strike, the Railsplitters had not scored a goal in the first half this season.
 
The Railsplitters added some insurance late in the 68th minute as another unlikely candidate broke through for a goal. Junior defender Nathaniel Johnson (London, England) moved forward to find himself on the end of a beautiful passage of play between Solomons and Keegan Sanders (Kennesaw, Ga.), who combined on the assist. Johnson rocketed Sanders' cross into the back of the net to double LMU's advantage to 2-0, which would hold through the completion of regulation.
 
Lincoln Memorial mustered a commanding 18-6 advantage on shots and a 4-2 margin in shots on goal as 11 different Railsplitters accounted for shot attempts in the match. Sophomore George Burne (Carlisle, England) had three near misses, while Thalles Silva (Cotia, Brazil) joined Burne atop the Railsplitters' shot chart with three attempts. Pedro Villa (New Braunfels, Texas), Lucas Coro (Ribeirao Preto, Brazil) and MJ Sheriff (Knoxville, Tenn.) chipped in with two shots apiece.
 
Irving Salgado was the lone Nighthawk to post multiple shot attempts as he fired off two of the team's six shots. He recorded one of UNG's two shots on goal along with Manuel Hernandez.
 
Senior goalkeeper Marcel Barwanietz (Berlin, Germany) posted his third clean slate of the season, tallying a pair of saves in 90 minutes, while his counterpart Victor Ohlin was saddled with two goals against and two saves over that same span.
 
The Railsplitters improved to 2-1 in the all-time series with the Nighthawks, building off of an impressive 4-0 win in Dahlonega, Ga. in 2013.
 
Lincoln Memorial returns to South Atlantic Conference play this Saturday, traveling to Newberry, S.C. for a league bout against the Newberry Wolves. First kick in that affair is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Smith Road Complex.