HARROGATE, Tenn. -- After more than a month away, the Railsplitters (1-6, 0-4 SAC) take back to the LMU Lacrosse Complex on Tuesday afternoon for a South Atlantic Conference battle against the Tusculum Pioneers (1-5, 0-3 SAC), with the first faceoff set for 3:30 p.m.
 
A dreadfully slow start derailed the Railsplitters in their last outing, an 11-7 loss at Catawba on Saturday. Lincoln Memorial didn't get its first goal in that match until Billy Kopsky (Smithtown, N.Y.) connected with Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) with 5:57 left in the second period, while the Indians had already built a four-goal edge by that point. The Railsplitters pulled to within one at 4-3 early in the third frame, but Catawba closed the period on a 3-0 run to create an unmanageable margin.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) was spectacular, as he has been most of the season, in the loss. The University of New England transfer reset his career-high with 17 saves on a season-high 49 shots faced, which is more than the total number of shots he faced in the past two games combined (44). Since relinquishing seven goals on eight shots faced and being pulled after a single period two weeks ago at Coker, Medel has allowed just 21 goals on 85 shots faced in his past two appearances.
 
Medel and his defensive cohorts have given the Railsplitters a chance to win in nearly every match this season, as Lincoln Memorial ranks second in the SAC in goals against average (9.71) and third in total goals against (68). But the offense continues to struggle to cash in on its opportunities. The Railsplitters have scored 10 goals or more in only one match this season, ranking ninth in the league with a 7.29 goals per game average. LMU has gone just 2-for-29 on man-up chances, playing out to a 6.9 percent mark.
 
Scoring chances should come in bunches against a Tusculum defense that is allowing a league-worst 13.83 goals per game and has won only 36.6 percent of its faceoffs.
 
Like the Railsplitters, the Pioneers head into Tuesday's match looking for their first league victory of the 2015 campaign, as Tusculum dropped a 16-6 decision at Lenoir-Rhyne, fell 16-9 at Wingate and lost 19-6 at Mars Hill. In last Thursday's loss to the Lions, Tusculum trailed 8-6 after a Ben Boyd goal at the 12:27 mark of the third period, but watched as Mars Hill closed on an 11-0 run.
 
The Pioneers have successfully cleared the ball on 102 of their 125 chances, but that hasn't necessarily resulted in offensive production. Tusculum ranks seventh in the SAC in shots per game (38.7), total shots (232) and shooting percentage (25.9 percent). Tusculum's 10 goals per game average is tied with three other teams for sixth in the league rankings.
 
Tusculum - in its second season of men's lacrosse - is looking for its first win since knocking off Ohio Valley 20-5 on February 28, while Lincoln Memorial aims to snap a five-match losing that dates back to February 23.
 
Lincoln Memorial's only win came in its only appearance at the LMU Lacrosse Complex this season, a 15-6 triumph over the Lees-McRae Bobcats on February 14. Due to a two-week assault of winter weather, the Railsplitters have played their past two "home" matches at the Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Tuesday's match also ends a stretch of three-straight road matches.
 
Freshman Chris Ryan leads the Pioneers in goal with 12, while Boyd and Nate Wade have accounted for nine goals apiece. Boyd holds the team-lead in points thanks to his six assists. Andrew Kransberger has been responsible for seven goals and six assists. Alexander Kleinberg has scooped up a team-high 18 ground balls and went 31-for-56 in the faceoff circle.
 
Kevin Haggerty has played every second in net for the Pioneers this season, allowing 83 goals with 68 saves in 360 minutes played. He is carrying a 13.83 goals against average.
 
First faceoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at the LMU Lacrosse Complex. Live stats will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com.

Live Stats