HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- The longest South Atlantic Conference road trip of the season awaits the Railsplitters (7-2-1, 4-2-1 SAC) on Saturday as they venture to Hartsville, S.C. for a 3:30 p.m. league bout against the Coker Cobras (3-6-1, 3-4 SAC). 
 
Lincoln Memorial is back in action for the first since turning in their most explosive offensive performance since the 2012 campaign in a 5-0 thrashing of the Newberry Wolves last Saturday. Junior midfielder Henrique Rezek (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) was the man of the match as he tallied his first two goals for the Railsplitters and added an assist to become the first LMU player with five points in a match since former All-American Mario Pinto did it in October, 2013.
 
Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil) added his team-leading sixth goal of the season, while Victor Peres (Brasilia, Brazil) tacked one on late for his second career goal. Danilo da Silva (Campinas, Brazil) opened the scoring in the 11th minute with his second goal of the season.
 
It was the first five-goal performance for the Railsplitters since October 13, 2012, when they defeated Brevard 5-1 at the LMU Soccer Complex. Additionally, it was the first time Lincoln Memorial has beaten an opponent by five or more goals since the match before that one, a 5-0 win over Tusculum on October 10, 2013.
 
With four matches left in the regular season schedule, the Railsplitters have already almost exceeded their goal output from the entire 2014 campaign, when they were limited to 21 goals in 15 matches. Lincoln Memorial has put up 20 goals through 10 appearances this season, ranking second in the South Atlantic Conference with 2.00 goals per match. That is largely due a tremendous volume of shots, as the Railsplitters are ranked second in the SAC with an average of 16.4 shots per match.  
 
Lincoln Memorial enters the weekend tied with Tusculum for fourth in the SAC standings with 13 points. Carson-Newman and Anderson are two points ahead and in a tie for second place, while Wingate has separated themselves from the pack with 21 points and a perfect 7-0 mark. Saturday's match could go a long way in determining if the Railsplitters finish in the top four of the SAC standings and earn the right to host their quarterfinal-round match for the upcoming South Atlantic Conference Championship.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Hartsville, S.C. Video and live stat links can be accessed at www.LMURailsplitters.com, the comprehensive online home of Lincoln Memorial University athletics.
 
Know the Opponent
 
Coker - 3:30 p.m. Live Stats | Video
 
After beginning the season with four losses and a draw, Coker comes into Saturday's match in relatively good form, as they defeated Mars Hill 2-1 in overtime, lost to SAC-leading Wingate 2-0 and topped Tusculum 2-1 in their past three outings.
 
In that road win over the Pioneers, Coker was outshot 22-11 overall and 8-7 in shots on goal, but snuck in goals in the 30th and 70th minutes to pace the victory.
 
Creating offensive opportunities has been an issue for the Cobras this season. They rank 10th in the league in shots per game with 9.4, 11th in shots on goal per game with 3.9 and last in total shots (94) and shots on goal (39). Coker has tallied just 11 goals in 10 matches for a 1.10 goals for average.
 
They haven't been much better defensively either, as the Cobras have been outscored 17-7 and outshot 174-94. Coker ranks 11th in the SAC with a 2.15 goals against average.
 
Four players have been responsible for the bulk of the Cobras' offense this season. Sophomore midfielder Alvaro Urena leads the team with three goals, 14 shots and eight shots on goal, while Ian Fellenz, Aladdin Elfares and Connor Norton-Baker have each scored two goals apiece. Fellenz leads that group with 11 shots and six shots on frame.
 
Cobra goalkeeper Kyndle Cobb leads the South Atlantic Conference and ranks 31st nationally with 5.33 saves per game. In total, he has produced 48 saves, a 1.95 goals against average and a .727 save percentage in nine appearances this season.
 
Lincoln Memorial and Coker played to a draw twice during the 2013 campaign, with the Railsplitters advancing to the semifinals of the SAC Championship the second time around via a penalty kick shootout. Thanks to a 99th minute goal by Leonardo da Silva, his second goal of the match, the Railsplitters captured a 2-1 overtime win against the Cobras in the 2014 SAC opener at the LMU Soccer Complex. That was the first outright win for either team in the series, as LMU now leads 1-0-2 all-time.