HICKORY, N.C. -- The Railsplitters (6-0-1, 3-0-1 SAC) scored three goals over a 22-minute span that bridged the first and second half to remain unbeaten and pace a 3-2 win over the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (4-2-1, 2-1 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action on Saturday night in Hickory, N.C.
 
With the win, Lincoln Memorial snaps a two-match losing streak against the Bears and improves to 7-3-2 in the all-time series, while extending the program's longest season-opening streak without a loss since 2006 to seven games. The 2006 squad is the program's single-season record holder for most consecutive appearances without a loss, as they reeled off 14 straight before first feeling defeat.
 
The Railsplitters actually found themselves trailing for the first time during the 2015 season as the Bears fired the opening salvo in the 29th minute when Ismael Noumansana scored from the middle of the box off of a Chris Pitharas cross.
 
Lincoln Memorial wouldn't be behind for long, though. After steadily pressuring the Bears' net over the ensuing passage of play, Pedro Villa (New Braunfels, Texas) broke through for the first of his two goals in the 43rd minute to knot the match at 1-1 before the halftime break.
 
The Railsplitters took the lead less than 10 minutes into the second stanza as Leonardo da Silva (Itajuba, Brazil) rebounded a deflection off of his own free-kick attempt in the 55th minute and tallied his fourth goal of the season.
 
Later, Villa added what proved to be an all-important insurance goal in the 65th minute as he received a pass from Henrique Rezek (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) while racing down the left side of the field and beat the Bears' defense for the second time in the match to extend the Railsplitters' lead to 3-1.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne pushed forward as the end of regulation approached and trimmed LMU's lead to 3-2 late in the 83rd minute on a goal by Raffaele Di Puorto. The Bears then landed two shots on frame in the last five minutes, but goalkeeper Pedro Ozi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) denied Daniel Williams in the 86th minute and Landon Guill in the 88th to preserve the Railsplitters' win.
 
Ozi completed the match with four saves and became the first LMU goalkeeper to win six of his first seven appearances in a season since Brent Cole did it in 2005.
 
The Railsplitters finished with a 15-12 advantage in shot attempts and a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. Lincoln Memorial also narrowly out-produced the Bears in corner kick attempts 5-4.
 
MJ Sheriff (Knoxville, Tenn.) led the Railsplitters with three shots, while Villa, da Silva and Yinka Lawal (Bromley, England) had two shot attempts apiece.
 
With the better portion of their road matches in the rearview mirror, the Railsplitters begin a stretch with six of their last eight regular-season matches at home on Wednesday, September 30 when they host the Hiwassee Tigers in nonconference action. That contest is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m.