HARROGATE, Tenn. – The 2016 home opener didn't go as planned for the Lady Railsplitters, who suffered a tough 4-0 loss to the Lee Flames on Sunday afternoon at the LMU Soccer Complex. Three second-half goals for Lee proved to be too much for Lincoln Memorial to withstand, as the Lady Railsplitters fall to 0-3 for the first time since 2003.

The Lady Railsplitters (0-3) kept pace with the athletic and experienced Flames through 45 minutes of action, but Lee (2-1-1) blew the match wide open in the second half to post their second consecutive 4-0 triumph.

Despite the lopsided score, the Lady Railsplitters held their own against Lee in most of the major statistical categories. The Flames outshot Lincoln Memorial 17-9, but only had three more shots on goal (7) and corner kick attempts (4) in the contest.

The match started out fairly even, with both teams testing the other's defense and pace. In the eighth minute, however, Lee checked into the scoring column with a laser from Summer Lanter, her first goal of the season. The shot was set up by midfielder Kinsey Cichowitz.

Lincoln Memorial would hang tough through the remainder of the first half, though, with sophomore Caroline Souza (Sao Paulo, Brazil) getting a solid opportunity to draw the match back even for the Lady Railsplitters. But Souza's header, which was the result of a steady build-up, was saved by the Lee keeper.  

Lee led by a narrow 1-0 margin at the half, but once again started quickly in the second half, as a 48th-minute goal from Cichowitz increased the lead to 2-0.

The Flames later tacked on two more goals, as junior midfielder McKenzie Bricker netted a 68th-minute goal off of a free kick from just outside of the box that ripped into the upper right-hand corner of the net. Lee closed out the scoring with another goal by Lanter in the 83rd minute, as she snuck one past LMU keeper Kathryn Lundy (Pinckney, Mich.).

The Lady Railsplitters' best scoring chance in the second half came in the 53rd minute, when Gabby Garcia (Aurora, Colo.) ripped a shot that clanged off of the right post.

Along with Lanter (2 goals, 4 shots, 2 shots on goal), Cichowitz (1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots) and Bricker (1 goal, 2 shots, 2 shots on goal), the Flames also got contributions from midfielder Kaela Leskovar, as she tallied two shots total, with one of them being on frame. In goal, Lee's Erin Olson got the win and combined for the shutout with backup Taylor Green, as Olson produced two saves over 80 minutes of game action.

Along with Garcia and Melissa Carpenter's (Jacksonville, Fla.) combined four shots, the Lady Railsplitters were led by midfielder Isa Jara (Miami, Fla.), Souza and defender Kate Zander (Baneberry, Tenn.), who each added a shot apiece for LMU.
 
Lincoln Memorial split time in net with two goalkeepers making an appearance. Lundy played the first half before giving way to sophomore Brooke Taylor (White Pine, Tenn.) in the second half. Taylor was taken off with an injury in the 60th minute, and Lundy reentered the game in her place. Lundy finished with a pair of saves.

LMU resumes action with their first South Atlantic Conference game of the season, as the Lady Railsplitters host Brevard at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th at the LMU Soccer Complex. Live stats and video links will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com.