HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Lincoln Memorial University men's lacrosse team (1-2) looks to bounce back from a tough loss earlier this week with a trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn. to "host" the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (1-2) at the Rocky Top Sports World in the South Atlantic Conference lid lifter.
 
Snow and ice continues to cling tight to the LMU Lacrosse Field, forcing the Railsplitters to travel into the Smoky Mountains to host their second consecutive game. The Railsplitters fell just a bit short in their first trip to Gatlinburg, dropping a back-and-forth, low-scoring decision to the Alma Scots 5-4. Lincoln Memorial had a one-goal lead at some point in each of the first three periods, but the Scots produced a 13-6 shot disparity in the fourth stanza and accounted for three of the game's last four goals. Alma's TJ Miller scored the game-winner with 1:53 remaining in regulation.
 
Aside from a stagnant offense that was outshot 29-22 and registered just eight shots on goal, the Railsplitters won nearly every other aspect of that contest. Lincoln Memorial went 19-for-21 on clearances and allowed only one goal on 10 man-down opportunities. The Railsplitters narrowly won the battle for ground balls 32-28.
 
Through three games, the Railsplitters lead the South Atlantic Conference in total goals against (21) and goals against average (7.00). LMU's man-down defense is currently ranked sixth out of 47 NCAA Division II teams, killing off 90.9 percent of its opponents' man-up chances.
 
That defense will get its toughest test of the season on Saturday as the L-R Bears lead the SAC and rank eighth in the nation in goals per game with 14.67. Only No. 1 ranked Limestone and Pfeiffer have more total points than Lenoir-Rhyne. In other key statistical departments, L-R is among the best in the nation in caused turnovers per game (13.67; 3rd) and clearing percentage (95.8 percent; 5th). 
 
Lenoir-Rhyne's 1-2 record is misleading as the Bears opened the season ranked 15th in the USILA Coaches' Poll, but dropped one-goal decisions to Limestone, the defending National Champion, and now 15th-ranked Florida Tech. L-R picked up its first win of the season and improved to 1-0 in SAC play with a 16-6 thrashing of the Tusculum Pioneers last Sunday. The Bears raced out to an 8-0 lead before the Pioneers got their first goal of the contest with 2:11 remaining in the first half. Lenoir-Rhyne is still noted in the receiving votes section of the USILA poll.
 
The Bears finished as the SAC regular season and tournament runner-up last season, compiling a 10-4 overall record with a 6-1 league ledger.
 
Seniors Ned Kaish and Jon Hanlon front the L-R offensive attack. Kaish ranks second in the conference with 11 goals, and the attacker has added 15 points, four assists and 11 ground balls to his stat ledger. Hanlon, meanwhile, has accounted for 10 points, seven goals and eight ground balls.
 
As good as the Bears' even-strength offense has been they've been that bad on man-up chances. Lenoir-Rhyne ranks eighth out of nine teams in the SAC with 15 percent success rate in man-up situations.
 
Two of the league's best face-off men and freshmen will collide on Saturday. LMU's Josh Hernandez (Middletown, N.Y.) is fourth in the SAC with a 36-for-54 mark on face-offs, while L-R's Shane Gottberg is 41-for-63 in that department.
 
Alex Squires has spent all but 5:35 in net for the Bears this season. The senior goalkeeper has allowed 35 goals over that span with a 12.04 goals against average and 16 saves. 
 
The Railsplitters are led offensively by Tylor Justin (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Justin Stewart (Copiague, N.Y.). Justin has tallied a team-leading six goals, while Stewart has dished out a team-high five assists. Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) and Ronny Paulino (Copiague, N.Y.) are tied for the second-most goals on the team with four apiece.
 
Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) is likely to start in net for the Railsplitters as the sophomore transfer from the University of New England made five saves in 60 minutes of action in the loss to Alma.
 
Lincoln Memorial and Lenoir-Rhyne get underway at 3 p.m. at the Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Live stats will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com. 

Live Stats