HARROGATE, Tenn. – Looking to snap a four-game losing skid, the Railsplitters (1-5, 0-3 SAC) travel to Salisbury, N.C. for a South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse showdown against the Catawba Indians (2-4, 0-2 SAC) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
The misleading 1-5 record overshadows the fact that Lincoln Memorial has strung together a number of impressive and somewhat surprising performances for a first-year program. Aside from a disappointing 18-9 loss at Coker last Saturday, the Railsplitters have dropped a pair of one-goal games to Alma and Wingate, while holding SAC-leading Lenoir-Rhyne to a season-low eight goals in an 8-0 loss back on February 28.
 
The Railsplitters nearly pulled off a stunner last Sunday, going toe-to-toe with Wingate before falling just a bit short in their comeback bid. Lincoln Memorial trailed 9-5 less than two minutes into the third period, but used a pair of Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) goals, as well as scores from Justin Stewart (Copiague, N.Y.) and Jusstin Ruffin (Copiague, N.Y.), to close the gap to one at 10-9 before the horn sounded on the third period. Unfortunately, Lincoln Memorial was not able to cash in one of its four shots on cage in the fourth quarter and suffered its third loss this season by three goals or fewer.
 
While the offense has struggled to produce on a consistent basis, ranking last in the SAC in goals per game (7.33), assists (25) and shooting percentage (22.1 percent), Lincoln Memorial's defense has been among the stingiest in the league. The Railsplitters' 9.50 goals against average ranks second in the SAC, while only Mars Hill and Lenoir-Rhyne have allowed fewer goals. Mars Hill's figure is swayed, though, as the Lions have played two fewer matches than the Railsplitters.
 
Neisler has paced the LMU attack up to this point, leading the way with nine goals and three assists. Stewart has collected six goals and five assists, while Adam Golia (Victoria, British Columbia) has handed out a team-leading seven helpers. Tylor Justin (Buffalo, N.Y.) has caged seven goals, while Ronny Paulino (Copiague, N.Y.) is tied for the team-lead with nine goals.
 
The Railsplitters have hit double-figure goals only once this season, hitting that mark in a 15-6 win over Lees-McRae on February 14.  
 
Both Catawba and Lincoln Memorial enter Saturday's match looking for their first South Atlantic Conference victory, as both Mars Hill and Brevard have dismissed the Indians in league play this season.
 
Catawba's loss at Brevard on Saturday was especially gut wrenching as the Indians opened the match with six unanswered goals and then watched as the Tornados wheeled off a 12-0 run that would not end until the eight-minute mark of the fourth period. Catawba scored four goals in the last eight minutes of the period, but it was too little, too late in a 14-11 loss.
 
Offensive droughts have characterized Catawba's season up to this point, as the Indians are scoring just 9.83 goals on 39.2 shots per game, ranking seventh in the SAC in both departments. Catawba scores nearly a full goal less in SAC play, averaging right at nine goals per game in those matches.
 
Despite the mediocre offensive numbers, Catawba is one of the most effective possession teams in the league. The Indians have won 70.5 percent of their face-offs (1st in the SAC) and compiled 193 ground balls (4th in the SAC).
 
While they haven't directly led to any eye-popping offensive numbers, Daniel Rew and Connor Eakes are two of the better face-off men in the SAC. Rew has gone 62-for-84 in the face-off circle and scooped up a team-leading 46 ground balls, while Eakes is 43-for-64 on face-offs with 33 ground balls.
 
Connor Kennedy and Dalton Cook have carried a tremendous portion of the offensive load for the Indians. Kennedy has amassed 16 goals and five assists, while Cook has provided 11 goals and five assists. Ty Sellers is the only other Catawba player approaching double-digit goals, as he has scored seven times.
 
The Catawba defense has relinquished 72 goals with an average of 12.02 goals per game.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Applegate has spent all but 11 minutes in net for the Indians this season, allowing 69 goals with 57 saves over that span.
 
Catawba ranks last in the SAC in caused turnovers with 27. Lincoln Memorial is just barely ahead of that mark with 31.  
 
First face-off is set for 2 p.m. Saturday in Salisbury. Live stats and video links will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com. 

LIve Stats 
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