HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Two first-year programs meet at the LMU Lacrosse Complex on Wednesday afternoon as the Colorado State-Pueblo ThunderWolves (0-7) complete their tour of the East Coast by paying a visit to the Railsplitters (1-8) for an NCAA Division II showdown. First faceoff is set for 4 p.m. in Harrogate, Tenn.
 
It was another heartbreaking loss on Saturday afternoon that denied Lincoln Memorial its first win since February 14, as the Railsplitters dropped a 9-6 decision to South Atlantic Conference leading Queens at the LMU Lacrosse Complex. The Railsplitters nearly shut out the Royals in the opening half, using two Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) goals to carry a 3-2 lead into the break. But Evan Farkas and Casey Hock fueled a 5-0 run for Queens to open the third period, burying the Railsplitters in a 7-3 deficit. LMU never closed the gap to less than three down the stretch.
 
For the Railsplitters, it was just another near miss in a season that has been full of them. Saturday's loss marked Lincoln Memorial's fifth that has been decided by three or less goals, while only two of the Railsplitters' defeats have been decided by more than five goals. Saturday was just four days removed from the Railsplitters suffering an 8-7 double overtime defeat at the hands of Tusculum.
 
Neisler, who ranks 17th in the SAC in goals scored, continues to round into form for the Railsplitters. The Detroit, Mich. native has tallied three or more goals in three of his last four appearances. He paces Lincoln Memorial with 16 goals, 19 points and 52 shot attempts. Ronny Paulino (Copiague, N.Y.), who leads the team with 30 shots on goal, has tallied at least one goal in all but two of his nine matches this season. Paulino has 11 goals and 16 ground ball recoveries.
 
The Railsplitters' defense has proven itself up to the task of slowing down some elite offensive attacks. Lincoln Memorial ranks second in the SAC and 26th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 9.44 goals per game. That defense clamps even tighter in man-down situations, when the Railsplitters are ranked fifth in the country by killing off the penalty 78.9 percent of the time. Behind goalkeeper Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.), the Railsplitters are ranked 10th in the nation in total saves (110) and 15th in saves per game (12.22). Five of LMU's nine opponents have scored fewer than 10 goals.
 
Lincoln Memorial's defensive numbers are made all the more impressive based on the fact that the South Atlantic Conference is the highest scoring league at the Division II level. SAC programs have combined for 873 goals, 490 assists and 1,363 points this season. The Sunshine State Conference is a distant second in each of those categories with 701 goals, 383 assists and 1,086 points.
 
CSU-Pueblo is still looking for the program's first win, but the ThunderWolves have shown a tremendous amount of improvement over the past three matches. After being limited to 5, 6, 3 and 5 goals in its first four matches, CSU-Pueblo scored eight times in a loss to Adams State, struck nine times in a loss to Rockhurst and posted a program-best 11 goals at Brevard on Saturday.
 
The numbers tell the story of a program trying to find itself in its first season of existence. The ThunderWolves are ranked among the bottom five in the nation in clearing percentage (.667), points per game (9.71) and scoring offense (6.71). CSU-Pueblo is also near the bottom of the national statistical rankings in terms of man-up offense (.225) and total points (68).
 
CSU-Pueblo boasts a balanced attack with six different players with at least five goals. Jamil Modaffari leads the way with 11 goals and 14 points, while Hunter Thompson and Chas Welch have seven goals apiece. Thompson has accounted for five of his team's 21 assists. Cody Bolen and Garrett Palmer have tallied six goals apiece.
 
The ThunderWolves are likely to feature Nick Richards in goal, as the freshman has compiled 373 of the team's 420 goalkeeper minutes, allowing 119 goals with 66 saves over that span.
 
The Railsplitters are aiming to snap a seven-match losing streak, which dates back to the program's first win in a 15-6 triumph over Lees-McRae on February 14.
 
First faceoff is set for 4 p.m. at the LMU Lacrosse Complex. Live stats will be available via www.LMURailsplitters.com.

Live Stats