WINGATE, N.C. -- The Railsplitters (3-2, 0-2 SAC) aim to bounce back from a rough offensive outing last weekend on Saturday when they take on the Wingate Bulldogs (3-5, 1-1 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action at 1 p.m. in Wingate, N.C.
 
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Last Time Out
 
Lincoln Memorial was held scoreless over the final 38 minutes of regulation in a 12-3 loss to the Catawba Indians last Saturday in Harrogate. Catawba jumped on the Railsplitters early, scoring four unanswered goals before Dylan Neisler (Detroit, Mich.) put the home team on the board at the 1:21 mark of the first quarter. Lincoln Memorial fought back and closed the gap to 5-3 on a goal by Nick Borriello (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) with 8:30 left in the first half, but the Railsplitters would not score again, as Catawba ended the match on a 7-0 run to send LMU to 0-2 in SAC play. Jared Courchene (Sagkeeng, Manitoba) accounted for the only other goal for LMU in the contest.
 
Still Seeking First SAC Win
 
The Railsplitters fell to 0-10 all-time in SAC play following Saturday's 12-3 loss to Catawba. Lincoln Memorial has now been outscored by a combined margin of 32-11 in its two league matches this season. The second half has proved especially difficult for the Railsplitters in SAC play, as Queens won the second half 10-3 and Catawba outscored Lincoln Memorial 4-0 over the final 30 minutes.
 
Dominant Defense
 
After leading the South Atlantic Conference in scoring defense last season, the Railsplitters have picked right back up where they left off, as Lincoln Memorial once again is at the top of the SAC in that category by allowing just 10 goals per game. Goalkeeper Joe Medel (Virginia Beach, Va.) has been an integral part of that stingy defense, as the junior is ranked 12th in the nation in save percentage (56.5 percent) and 13th in saves per game (12.2). The Railsplitters are also doing a stellar job in man-down situations, killing off penalties at an 80.8 percent rate, which is the 11th-best mark in the country.
 
Face-Off Woes
 
The Railsplitters have struggled mightily at the face-off x this season, ranking 49th out of 58 teams in the nation and seventh in the SAC with a 41.2 face-off winning percentage. Lincoln Memorial is 38-for-72 on face-offs in its three wins, but just 11-for-47 in its two losses.
 
Golia Looking for Bounce Back
 
Sophomore midfielder Adam Golia (Victoria, British Columbia) was shut out for the first time this season in the Railsplitters' loss to Catawba, but he is still ranked fourth in the nation and first in the SAC in goals per game with 4.00. Golia's 5.00 points per game also leads the SAC and ranks seventh in the country. He leads Lincoln Memorial with 20 goals and 25 points.
 
Last Meeting against Wingate
 
The Railsplitters suffered a narrow 10-9 loss at Wingate in the first-ever meeting between the two programs last season in Wingate, N.C. Lincoln Memorial never led in that match, but remained within striking distance throughout. After falling behind 10-7 with 4:40 left in regulation, the Railsplitters scored two quick goals to pull within one at 10-9 with a little over two minutes to play. Unfortunately, Lincoln Memorial would not get another shot in the match. Neisler led the way with five goals, while Golia produced three assists.
 
Wingate Also Looking to Rebound
 
The Bulldogs saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday in a 17-6 loss at Lenoir-Rhyne, as the Bears outscored Wingate 7-1 in the second quarter to power the victory. Prior to that, Wingate beat Mars Hill in double overtime and won at Florida Southern and Rollins.
 
Players to Watch
 
Junior Austin Murphy leads Wingate with 26 points on 12 goals and 14 assists, while freshman Daniel Godwin has produced 20 points with 11 goals and nine helpers. Jeremy Sullivan is also a huge part of the Bulldogs' offensive equation with 12 goals and an assist. Four other Wingate players have contributed at least eight points. Alex Llerandi has eight goals and an assist, while Ryan Ormerod has seven goals and a pair of assists. Junior Jacob Ormerod has started all eight matches in goal for Wingate, accounting for a 9.90 goals against average and a 56.6 save percentage.
 
Stingy Defense
 
Like the Railsplitters, Wingate boasts a stellar defensive unit that ranks second in the SAC and 30th in the country by allowing just 10.25 goals per game. The Bulldogs are even better than Lincoln Memorial in man-down situations, killing off those opportunities 84.8 percent of the time, which is ranked seventh in the nation.