HARROGATE, Tenn. -- A busy weekend with early postseason implications lies in wait for the Lincoln Memorial University men's lacrosse team (1-3, 0-1 SAC), who pays a visit to the Coker Cobras (1-3, 1-1 SAC) and the Wingate Bulldogs (1-4, 1-0 SAC) for two South Atlantic Conference road tests. The Railsplitters stop in Hartsville, S.C. for a 3 p.m. match against Coker on Saturday, then head to Wingate for another 3 p.m. match on Sunday.
 
The Railsplitters are returning to action for the first time since dropping an 8-0 decision to the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears in the SAC opener last Saturday in Gatlinburg, Tenn. It was an impressive defensive performance for Lincoln Memorial, holding the nation's eighth-ranked scoring offense almost seven goals below its SAC-leading average. The Railsplitters were shut out offensively, but it wasn't due to a lack of opportunities, as they registered 28 shots and nine shots on goal. LMU went 0-for-7 on man-up chances.
 
The recent rash of winter weather throughout East Tennessee has caused a seismic shift in the Railsplitters' schedule, forcing a steady slew of game cancellations, location changes and fragmented indoor practices. Those factors have prevented the first-year program from galvanizing on the offense end of the field. The Railsplitters look to break out of their offensive funk this weekend, as they rank ninth in the SAC with 6.5 goals per game.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) has been a wall in net for the Railsplitters through his first four games in the Blue and Gray. The University of New England transfer leads the SAC with 23 goals against and a miniscule 6.87 goals against average. Medel also ranks second in the SAC with a 58.2 save percentage.
 
Behind Medel and a plethora of hardy defenders, the Railsplitters boast the nation's 13th-ranked scoring defense, limiting opponents to just 7.25 goals per game.
 
Coker welcomes the Railsplitters to Hartsville, S.C. carrying a 1-3 overall record with an even 1-1 mark in SAC play. Two of the Cobras' three losses have come against nationally-relevant teams, falling at Queens 11-8 and at Pfeiffer 19-6. Queens had been ranked as high as No. 14 in the USILA Coaches' Poll, while Pfeiffer is noted in the receiving votes section of this week's USILA rankings.
 
In their lone victory, the Cobras erased a two-goal deficit in the final three minutes to hand the Mars Hill Lions a 12-11 defeat in SAC action at Byerly Park, Coker's home field.
 
The Cobras' offense has produced only 35 goals with 128 shot attempts, the second-lowest number in the SAC this season. Their defense, meanwhile, has allowed 55 goals and 13.77 per game, tied with Queens for the most in the league. Coker has been magnificent on clearances, leading the SAC and ranking third in the nation with a 93.4 clearing percentage, but they have been one of the nation's worst in face-off winning percentage, ranking 47th out of 56 teams with a paltry 39 percent mark.
 
LMU's freshman midfielder Josh Hernandez (Middletown, N.Y.) has won 40 of his 66 face-offs this season, good for a 60.6 percent mark.
 
The Cobras are led by senior Josh Smith and sophomore Josh Wassum. Smith has six goals, six assists and a team-leading 21 ground balls, while Wassum has seven goals and four assists on 25 shots. Shane Wilson has also contributed seven goals, and Mike Martiello has pitched in six goals and three assists with 16 ground balls.
 
Coker keeper Tim Ryan has allowed 49 goals in a shade over 224 minutes played. The senior netminder has stopped 41.7 percent of the shots on goal he's faced, collecting 35 saves in four appearances.
 
Sunday's opponent, the Wingate Bulldogs are 1-4 overall with a 1-0 mark in SAC play. Wingate earned a decisive 17-11 victory over Brevard in the SAC opener last Saturday, but dropped an 8-6 decision to Rollins on Wednesday. The Bulldogs trailed Rollins 7-3 at the half before nearly clawing all the way back to even it in the fourth period. Like the Railsplitters, Sunday will be a back-to-back for the Bulldogs, who host the Tusculum Pioneers on Saturday.
 
Despite its 1-4 mark, Wingate does a lot of things exceptionally well. The Bulldogs are ranked fourth in the nation in ground balls with 198, while their 39.6 ground balls per game is the eighth-highest mark in Division II.  Wingate has racked up 85 points, ranking third in the SAC and eighth in the nation in that department. While their defense ranks seventh in the SAC in goals allowed per game (12.6), the Bulldogs are third in the nation in total saves with 71.
 
Sophomore Austin Murphy makes the Bulldogs tick on offense, leading the way with eight goals and 10 assists. Ryan Vogrig and Tanner Kotch are tied for the team-lead with nine goals apiece, while Cory Schumacher has eight goals and six assists. Vogrig paces the Bulldogs with 19 ground balls.
 
Wingate's sophomore keeper Jacob Ormerod is among the national leaders in saves, ranking ninth in DII with 13.4 saves per game. He has also allowed 55 goals in five appearances, compiling a 54.9 save percentage in 272 minutes played.
 
The Railsplitters get started this weekend with a 3 p.m. match at Coker on Saturday before heading to Wingate for another 3 p.m. match on Sunday. Live stats will be available for both of those contests, while fans can tune into a live feed video of Saturday's match against the Cobras. All of those links can be accessed at www.LMURailsplitters.com.

Saturday vs. Coker (3 p.m.)
Live Stats
Video

Sunday vs. Wingate (3 p.m.)
Live Stats