HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Billy Kopsky (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Ryan Young (Mukwonago, Wis.) scored four goals apiece as the Lincoln Memorial University men's lacrosse team (2-8) survived a late run and snapped a seven-match losing skid with a 16-14 win over the Colorado State-Pueblo ThunderWolves (0-8) in NCAA Division II action on Wednesday at the LMU Lacrosse Complex.
 
The Railsplitters and ThunderWolves traded three goals in the final seven minutes of the opening period, with CSU-Pueblo drawing first blood on a goal by Nick Cervi with 6:56 left. Kopsky put the Railsplitters on the board with a goal at the 4:27 mark, but Jamil Modaffari put the visiting unit back in the lead less than a minute and a half later. Tylor Justin (Buffalo, N.Y.) connected with Young at the 2:08 mark to tie it back up, but Cervi notched his second goal of the period less than a minute later. Kopsky scored with 34 seconds left in the frame to even the score at 3-3.
 
Lincoln Memorial opened the second period by rattling off three unanswered goals, with Young striking at the 13-minute mark, Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) scoring off of an Adam Golia (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) assist at 12:17, and Kopsky breaking through again with 9:39 left in the half.
 
The ThunderWolves got two goals back before the half ended, but Jusstin Ruffin (Copiague, N.Y.) also scored during that stretch to send the Railsplitters into the break with a 7-5 cushion.
 
Much like the second period, the Railsplitters kicked off the third with three goals in a span that consumed less than a minute and a half of game clock. Golia scored off of a Jared Courchene (Sagkeeng, Manitoba, Canada) assist to jump start that flurry at 12:03, while Golia assisted on goals by Ronny Paulino (Copiague, N.Y.) and Neisler in the next 45 seconds to balloon the Railsplitters' lead to 10-5.
 
CSU-Pueblo tossed in goals from Cody Bolen, Chas Welch and Tyler Goodwin after that three-goal run for the Railsplitters, but Justin Stewart (Copiague, N.Y.) notched unassisted goals at 2:56 and 1:22 to hold LMU's cushion at four goals (12-8).
 
The ThunderWolves made it interesting in the fourth frame, though, cutting the deficit to 13-11 with 10:49 left on a goal by Modaffari. Kopsky and Young provided some breathing room with goals at 8:49 and 4:17 to extend the lead back to four (15-11). CSU-Pueblo trimmed the margin back to three on another goal by Modaffari, but Golia scored 45 seconds later to essentially put it out of reach. The ThunderWolves added two late goals to cut the final margin to 16-14.
 
The Railsplitters reset their season-high for goals and ground-ball recoveries, grabbing 39 loose balls over the course of the match. It marked just the second time the Railsplitters have tallied double-digit goals in a match, surpassing their 15-goal performance against Lees-McRae for the new program benchmark.
 
Young entered Wednesday's match without a goal and with only two shot attempts in his first six appearances. The Mukwonago, Wis. Native had his breakout performance in Tuesday's win, matching his teammate Kopsky and CSU-Pueblo's Modaffari with a game-high four goals. He also scooped up three ground balls.
 
Kopsky finished with four goals, five shots on goal and three ground balls, Stewart notched two goals and an assist, Golia scored twice and handed out three helpers, and Neisler finished with two goals and an assist.
 
Josh Hernandez (Middletown, N.Y.) and Kyle Fleck (Toledo, Ohio) led the Railsplitters with seven ground balls, while Hernandez went 16-for-33 in the faceoff circle. Fleck led Lincoln Memorial with three caused turnovers.
 
Goalkeeper Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) made double-digit saves for the fifth straight match, stopping 14 shots and allowing 14 goals in the full 60 minutes.
 
The Railsplitters were nearly perfect on clearances, successfully clearing on 19 of their 23 chances. CSU-Pueblo finished with a 34-30 shot advantage and a 42-39 edge on ground balls.
 
Lincoln Memorial returns to South Atlantic Conference action on Saturday, traveling to Mars Hill, N.C. to square off against the Mars Hill Lions, with first faceoff set for 2 p.m.