HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Vying for the program's first 5-0 start in 10 seasons, the Railsplitters (4-0, 1-0 SAC) entertain the Queens Royals (2-2, 0-1 SAC) for a South Atlantic Conference men's soccer match in the LMU Soccer Complex opener at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
In conjunction with Lincoln Memorial's home debut, the first 50 fans will receive a signed 2015 men's soccer poster. Admission to all home soccer matches is completely free of charge.
 
It took 89 minutes and some change, but the Railsplitters took care of business at Brevard on Wednesday to sustain their unblemished record, defeating the Tornados 1-0 in the South Atlantic Conference opener. Playing with his characteristic panache, Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil) out-produced the Tornados in both shot attempts (7-3) and shots on goal (4-1), capping his command performance by scoring with 36 seconds left in regulation to secure the victory. LMU finished by outshooting Brevard 17-3 with a 5-1 shots on goal disparity.
 
While da Silva is leading the Railsplitters' offense, ranking first in the SAC in shot attempts (23) and third in goals scored (3), Lincoln Memorial is winning on the wings of a stellar defensive unit. Led by goalkeeper Pedro Ozi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and preseason All-SAC defender Nathaniel Johnson (London, England), the Railsplitters have accounted for a miniscule 0.76 goals against average. Lees-McRae is the only team to score two goals against the Railsplitters so far this season, as Lincoln Memorial shut out both West Alabama and Brevard while allowing just a single score to Montevallo.
 
The Railsplitters are 10-3-2 in their last 15 home openers, as they have not lost a home debut since 2003. Lincoln Memorial needed overtime to clinch a 2-1 win over Coker in last season's home-opening match.
 
Coach D'Anna's squad will be looking for the program's best start since 2005, when the Railsplitters opened the season with seven consecutive wins. It would mark Lincoln Memorial's third 5-0 start of the NCAA Division II era.
 
Live stats and a video broadcast, presented by the LMU Sports Network and Sigmon Communications, will be available via www.LMURailsplitters.com. Fans can also follow along with live Twitter updates (@LMURailsplitter) and join the conversation using the hashtag #LMUMSOC.
 
Know the Opponent
 
Queens - 3:30 p.m. Live Stats | Video
 
The Royals saw their two-match winning streak end, slipping to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in SAC play, with a 2-0 loss to Tusculum in the South Atlantic Conference opener on Wednesday. Queens fell despite accounting for a 19-14 advantage on shot attempts and an 8-4 shots on goal edge.
 
A wounded lion is dangerous, though, as the Royals enter Saturday's contest leading the SAC in shots per match with 18.5 while ranking fourth in the league in goals scored with eight. Queens, who has generated at least 15 shots in its last three matches, has landed 33 of its 74 shots on goal.
 
The defensive end of the field has been a problem for the Royals, as they've given up a goal or less in only one match this season, a 2-1 win over Southern Wesleyan on September 5. Other than that, Queens has surrendered four goals to Limestone, the sixth-ranked team in the nation, two goals to King and two goals to Tusculum. They are among the bottom of the conference in goals allowed per match with 2.19.
 
Queens is also the most readily carded team in the SAC, leading the league with 15 yellow cards. The Royals have been issued at least four yellows in three of their four matches. The Railsplitters are second in the SAC with 12 yellow cards.
 
Corey Brown leads the Royals with two goals and four assists while Edmundo Robinson has a pair of goals to his credit. Ryan Ejezie has accounted for a goal and an assist with a team-high 19 shots and nine shots on goal. Caio Maciel has contributed one goal and two assists.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Sergio Lemus has played all 369 minutes for the Royals, making 13 saves and allowing nine goals over that span. He is ranked 10th in the SAC with a .591 save percentage.
 
Queens has defeated the Railsplitters in four of the six all-time meetings and two of the three matches since joining the SAC in 2013. The Royals earned a 2-0 win in Harrogate in 2013 before ending the Railsplitters' season in the SAC Championship semifinals with a 4-1 victory. Lincoln Memorial avenged those two losses by beating Queens 1-0 in Charlotte last season, getting a 62nd-minute goal from George Burne (Carlisle, England).