HARROGATE, Tenn. -- With a four-match, season-opening road trip behind them, the Lady Railsplitters (2-1-1, 1-0 SAC) are finally ready for their LMU Soccer Complex debut as they welcome the Queens Royals (3-3, 1-0 SAC) to Harrogate on Saturday for a 1 p.m. South Atlantic Conference women's soccer showdown.
 
As part of the home-opening festivities, the first 50 fans will receive an autographed poster. Admission is completely free of charge to all home soccer matches.
 
Lincoln Memorial escaped Brevard with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday to open SAC play, improving to 9-0 all-time against the Tornados. Freshman Claire Leasure (Franklin, Tenn.) notched her second career game-winning goal in just her fourth career appearance, scoring in the 50th minute to end the Lady Railsplitters' 225-minute scoring drought. It was the first goal for LMU since Leasure poured in the game winner in a double overtime win against West Alabama in the season opener.
 
The Lady Railsplitters' offense continues to find it difficult to score, but there should be a bit of optimism that more goals are coming after the match at Brevard. Lincoln Memorial produced 16 shots with six second-half shots on goal and eventually broke through against a Tornado defense that had allowed only two goals combined in its previous three matches. 
 
Along with the offense, the Lady Railsplitters got a bounce-back effort from goalkeeper Kathryn Lundy (Pinckney, Mich.), who made three saves and posted her second shutout in four appearances this season.
 
LMU's defensive unit is the subject of an unusual early-season trend, as they have alternated shutouts by relenting three goals. The Lady Railsplitters were forced to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a 4-3 double overtime win against West Alabama before stonewalling Montevallo two days later. A 3-0 loss at Lee was then followed by Wednesday's shutout victory at Brevard. The Lady Railsplitters are 10th in the SAC with a 1.67 goals against average.
 
The Lady Railsplitters are 11-4 in home debuts since the turn of the century. They had won 10 consecutive home openers until that streak ended in a 1-0 loss to Coker last season.
 
Live stats and a video broadcast, compliments of the LMU Sports Network will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com. Fans can also follow live updates via Twitter (@LMURailsplitter), where they can participate in the conversation using the hashtag #LMUWSOC.
 
Know the Opponent
 
Queens - 1 p.m. Live Stats | Video
 
The Royals improved to 3-3 on the season and jumped to 1-0 in SAC play with a thoroughly dominant 1-0 win over Tusculum in the league lid lifter on Wednesday. After being held to just four shots in a 3-0 loss at No. 4 nationally-ranked North Georgia, Queens produced a 22-12 shot edge and a 7-3 shots on goal advantage against the Pioneers. Ashley Osiecki powered the win with an unassisted goal in the 60th minute.
 
Aside from the loss at North Georgia, the Queens offense has had no problem creating shot attempts, amassing at least 15 shots in three of its six matches. The Royals rank fourth in the SAC with 81 shots, but have only scored five goals and accumulated 24 shots on goal, playing out to a league-worst .296 shots on goal percentage. Opposing offenses, meanwhile, have created 39 shots on goal on 84 attempts for a 46.4 percent shot on goal rate.
 
The Royals are one of the most physical teams in the SAC, as they lead the league with six yellow cards. They have been called for at least one yellow card in four of their six matches. Lincoln Memorial has just one yellow on the season.
 
No Royal currently has more than one goal. Osiecki leads Queens in points with a goal and two assists, while Alana Jefferson has a team-high 22 shots and six shots on goal. Charlotte Ring has 12 shot attempts to her credit.
 
Senior Tori Danchak has started all six games in goal for Queens, compiling a 1.34 goals against average, 27 saves (4th-most in SAC) and a .794 save percentage.
 
The Lady Railsplitters own a 1-0-1 record against Queens since the Royals joined the South Atlantic Conference in 2013. Kayla Stephens (Keller, Texas) posted a shutout with three saves in a 2-0 victory over Queens at the LMU Soccer Complex that season, while the two teams ended in a 0-0 stalemate in Charlotte, N.C. last season.