BREVARD, N.C. -- Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil) scored with 36 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Railsplitters (4-0, 1-0 SAC) to a thrilling 1-0 win over the Brevard Tornados (0-5, 0-1 SAC) in the South Atlantic Conference men's soccer opener on Wednesday evening in Brevard, N.C. With the win, Lincoln Memorial begins its season with a 4-0 record for the second consecutive year and the third time since 2010.
 
After more than 89 minutes without a goal and with the match seemingly destined for overtime, da Silva collected a blocked cross and netted the game-winning score with just 36 ticks left on the clock, stunning the Tornados, who were looking for their first win of the season as well as their first triumph over Lincoln Memorial since 2008.
 
That was the exclamation point on an outstanding performance by da Silva, as he more than doubled up the Tornados' shot and shot on goal totals all by his lonesome. He led all players with seven shots and four shots on goal while Brevard ended the contest with just three shots and a single shot on goal. As a team, the Railsplitters finished with 17 shots and five shots on target.
 
Henrique Rezek (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil), George Burne (Carlisle, England), Nick Spielman (Melbourne, Fla.) and Danilo da Silva (Campinas, Brazil) contributed two shots apiece.
 
The Railsplitters improved to 9-2 all-time against Brevard while moving to 6-1-1 in South Atlantic Conference openers since 2007, their first official season as SAC members.
 
Lincoln Memorial netminder Pedro Ozi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) faced only one significant challenge in posting his second shutout of the season, stopping Gabriel Garcia's shot on goal in the 60th minute. Brevard submitted just two more shot attempts in the match while their goalkeeper, Heath Turner, made four saves and faced a steady stream of shots in the loss.
 
The Tornados produced an 8-4 corner kick advantage, but they were also whistled for 18 fouls. The Railsplitters received a pair of yellow cards and 12 fouls in the match.
 
The Railsplitters will aim to start 5-0 for the first time since 2005 when they make their LMU Soccer Complex debut on Saturday against Queens. Kickoff in that SAC battle is slated for 3:30 p.m.