HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Two of the nation's last remaining unbeaten teams will meet on Sunday when the 28th-ranked Railsplitters (6-0-1, 3-0-1 SAC) host the 16th-ranked Wingate Bulldogs (7-0-2, 4-0 SAC) in a battle of the South Atlantic Conference's first and second place teams at Union College's Williamson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Barbourville, Ky.
 
Lincoln Memorial and Wingate were originally scheduled to duke it out on Saturday at the LMU Soccer Complex, but a surplus of residual rain from Hurricane Joaquin has made the Harrogate pitch unplayable. The Railsplitters and Bulldogs will instead play on the turf surface offered 45 minutes north of campus at the home of the Union Bulldogs.
 
It's the Railsplitters' second straight match that has been affected by the weather, as Wednesday's contest against Hiwassee was canceled due to lightning, wind and heavy rainfall.
 
The Railsplitters are returning to action for the first time since last Saturday, when they defeated the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears 3-2 to improve to 3-0-1 in SAC play. Pedro Villa (New Braunfels, Texas) scored twice in that match while Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil) chipped in his fourth goal of the season to lead Lincoln Memorial's offensive attack.
 
LMU is one of 45 teams in the country allowing less than a goal per match, ranking 43rd in the country in goals against average with a 0.98 mark. Lenoir-Rhyne was just the second team to score more than a single goal against the Railsplitters in a match this season.
 
Sunday marks the program's first match against a ranked opponent since 2012, and that contest also came against the Bulldogs, who defeated the Railsplitters 3-2 while holding the No. 15 national rank. Lincoln Memorial's last ranked win was in 2009, when they defeated then 16th-ranked Tusculum 2-0 in Harrogate. The Railsplitters are 0-3-1 against ranked teams since that last win.
 
Live stats will be available for Sunday's contest at www.LMURailsplitters.com. Fans can also follow along with the match via Twitter (@LMURailsplitter). Admission is completely free of charge to the match.
 
Know the Opponent
 
Wingate - 3:30 p.m. (at Union College) Live Stats
 
Along with Lincoln Memorial, the defending South Atlantic Conference regular-season champion Bulldogs are one of 15 teams in the country without a loss this season. Wingate earned a signature win on Wednesday, too, when they handed No.9 nationally-ranked Limestone a 3-1 loss, scoring goals in the 79th and 82nd minutes to pull away late.
 
That win over the Saints moved Wingate's winning streak to five, a stretch which has seen the Bulldogs outscore their opponents by a combined 13-3 margin.
 
The Bulldogs are elite on both sides of the field, but they truly stand out on the defensive end, where they rank 11th in the nation with a 0.54 goals against average. Wingate hasn't allowed more than a goal in any of its nine matches this season. Offensively, the Bulldogs are ranked 31st in Division II by scoring 2.44 goals per match, as they fire off an average of 17.33 shots and 8.22 shots on goal per contest.
 
The Bulldogs are led offensively by Jon Ander and Callum Ross, who are tied for the SAC lead with 14 points apiece. Ander has six goals, two assists, 35 shots and 22 shots on goal, while Ross has accumulated five goals, four assists and 18 shot attempts. Charlie Machell, a third team All-American in 2014, has produced five goals and an assist this season. Shaun Gadsby (5) and Aksel Juul (4) have combined for nine assists and 20 shots on goal as a tandem.
 
Wingate freshman goalkeeper Pablo Jara is one of the best at his position in the Southeast Region. Jara leads the SAC in wins (7), save percentage (.865), minutes played (828:39), goals against (5) and goals against average (0.54). His save percentage is the 11th-best mark in the nation.
 
The Railsplitters have lost their last three matches against Wingate and seven of the nine all-time meetings between the two programs. Lincoln Memorial last defeated the Bulldogs in 2011, capturing a 2-0 victory in Wingate, N.C. The Bulldogs pounded the Railsplitters 3-0 in last season's match-up. LMU has lost all three meetings against Wingate at home.