HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Tusculum Pioneers (2-5, 1-3 SAC) tied it up in the dying minutes of regulation and then stunned the Railsplitters (1-7, 0-5 SAC) just 10 seconds into the second overtime to come away with an 8-7 victory in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action on Tuesday at the LMU Lacrosse Complex.  
 
The Pioneers' closing run washed away a resilient effort by Lincoln Memorial, who overcame a two-goal deficit to nearly pick up their first SAC victory.
 
Jusstin Ruffin (Copiague, N.Y.) staked the Railsplitters to an early 1-0 lead with a goal at the 8:23 mark of the first stanza, but Kellen Asumndson and Andrew Kransberger answered with two quick scores to put the Pioneers up 2-1 at the end of one.
 
Ruffin set up back-to-back goals to push the Railsplitters into the lead, finding Billy Kopsky (Smithtown, N.Y.) at the 7:49 mark and Adam Golia (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) with 4:29 left in the half.
 
The Railsplitters were just minutes away from carrying a one-goal edge into the break, but Asmundson scored again off of a Kransberger assist to even the match with 1:53 left in the second.
 
Nate Wade pushed the Pioneers out to a 5-3 advantage with a pair of goals late in the third period. A missed shot by Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) quickly turned into a transition opportunity for Tusculum, who converted on the other end with a strike by Wade at 5:39. Just over two minutes later, Ruffin was whistled for a slashing penalty, and Wade notched another goal from point blank range to put the Railsplitters in a two-goal hole.
 
Led by Neisler, Lincoln Memorial stormed back in front with a furious close to the third period. Jared Courchene (Sagkeeng, Manitoba, Canada) brought the Railsplitters to within one with a man-up goal at the 2:53 mark. Less than a minute later, Neisler scored to tie it up at 5-5. Asmundson briefly pushed Tusculum back into the lead by picking up a ground ball at the front of the net and scoring with 54 seconds left, but Neisler erased that by scooping up a ground ball from behind the net, wheeling through the defense and firing a shot into the lower left corner of the net.
 
Neisler gave the Railsplitters a 7-6 lead with his third goal in a two-minute span, scoring with a second left in the third period.
 
The Railsplitters nearly added an insurance goal on several occasions in the fourth period as a shot by Ruffin was saved at the 8:10 mark, while an attempt by Golia was stonewalled at the 5:08 clip. A shot by Kopsky was saved and turned into an offensive opportunity, though, as the Pioneers moved quickly down the field and tied it up with a goal by Ben Boyd with just 3:09 left in regulation.
 
Lincoln Memorial landed one shot on goal in the final minute of regulation, but it was turned away to send the two teams into overtime.
 
The Railsplitters opened the first overtime with possession and a short man-up opportunity, but Ronny Paulino's (Copiague, N.Y.) shot at the 2:26 mark was saved. The Pioneers maintained possession for the remainder of the first overtime and built up a point blank shot with 53 seconds left, but goalkeeper Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) came in clutch with the save.
 
The first overtime ended with a costly penalty as Justin Stewart (Copiague, N.Y.) was issued a 30-second delay of game that carried over into the second overtime. The Pioneers took advantage of that opportunity, striking just 10 seconds in on a goal by Chris Ryan from right outside the restraining line, giving the Pioneers the sudden victory.
 
The two teams finished dead even in shot attempts with 35 apiece, while the Railsplitters landed 24 shots on goal to the Pioneers' 21. Tusculum mustered a slight 28-27 ground ball edge and picked up a 19-14 advantage in that department in the second half.
 
Lincoln Memorial went 17-for-21 on clears, while Tusculum was nearly perfect with a 19-for-21 mark in that department.
 
Neisler led the way with a game-high three goals on four shots on goal, while Ruffin pitched in with a pair of assists. Paulino came up empty on a match-leading nine shots and five shots on goal.
 
Medel was spectacular in net, once again, for the Railsplitters, registering 13 saves on 21 shots faced. He allowed 10 goals or fewer for the fifth time in the seven matches in which he's played at least 30 minutes.
 
The Railsplitters welcome the Queens Royals to the LMU Lacrosse Complex on Saturday for a SAC showdown beginning at 3 p.m.