HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The 20th-ranked Railsplitters (4-0-1, 1-0-1 SAC) will try to snap a four-game losing skid to the Mars Hill Lions (1-4, 1-1 SAC) as the two teams collide Wednesday in Mars Hill, N.C. for a South Atlantic Conference showdown.

Lincoln Memorial is off to its best start since opening with a 4-0-1 mark back in 2008, but the Railsplitters must defeat an opponent that has given them fits in recent years to continue their high-flying start. Despite the Railsplitters 10-8-1 edge in the all-time series, Mars Hill has won four-straight head-to-head encounters, outscoring LMU 8-1 in those bouts.

The Railsplitters are coming off of a 2-2 double overtime tie with the Newberry Wolves this past weekend, their first winless result of the 2014 campaign. Lincoln Memorial struck first with a Yuri Passos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) goal in the fifth minute, but Newberry pitched in a pair of goals in the early portion of the second half to take a 2-1 lead. It was LMU's first time trailing this season, but sophomore George Burne (Carlisle, England) erased the deficit with the equalizer in the 76th minute.

Junior forward Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil) continues to lead the Railsplitters offensively with four goals, 16 shots and eight shots on goal, but he has contributed only one shot total in his last two appearances. Passos has accumulated 12 shots while Yinka Lawal (Bromley, England) has logged 11 attempts. The Railsplitters rank second in the South Atlantic Conference in both goals scored (10) and shots per game (16.6), as six different players have already registered goals this season.

Mars Hill is riding high into Wednesday's match-up after picking up its first win of the season last Saturday with a 1-0 triumph over the Tusculum Pioneers. Prior to that, the Lions had been outscored 12-3 in their four previous matches. The Lions' 12 goals allowed is the second most in the league, trailing only Brevard's 18.  

The Lions have produced the fewest goals in the SAC this season with an average of 0.8 per match despite leading the conference in shots per game (17.2) and total shots on goal (43) while ranking second in total shot attempts (86). Mars Hill's .047 shot percentage ranks last in the SAC.

Senior Alex Mullen has accounted for one of Mars Hill's four goals as he leads the team with 22 shots attempts and eight shots on target. Junior Amine Merdjett has contributed 14 shots, seven shots on goal and an assist in five appearances. Sophomores Jack Donaldson, Cody Foreman and Thomas Freitas have each scored a single goal with eight shots and four shots on goal apiece.

Junior backstop Chris Mitchell seems to have seized the goalkeeper role for the Lions after splitting time with Oliver Pannell in net through the first three matches. Mitchell relinquished three goals to Lees-McRae during his first start, but he bounced back with a clean slate in the win over Tusculum. Mitchell recorded four saves in that contest.

The Railsplitters have not won five times through their first six games since the 2006 squad started 12-0-2 in route to an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals.

The Railsplitters and Lions are set to get underway at 5 p.m. in Mars Hill, N.C. at Belk Field. Mars Hill will be providing both live stats and a video broadcast.

Live Stats
Video