HARROGATE, Tenn. – Junior striker Danilo da Silva (Campinas, Brazil) scored twice to lead the Railsplitters to a 2-0 shutout win over Brevard in the South Atlantic Conference opener on Wednesday afternoon at the LMU Soccer Complex.
 
Da Silva registered a goal in his third straight match to take over the SAC lead for goals scored, powering Lincoln Memorial (4-1, 1-0 SAC) to its fourth consecutive win and a 1-0 start in league play. Da Silva's second career two-goal performance and first since October 31 of last season extended the Railsplitters' winning streak over the Tornados (2-2, 0-1 SAC) to eight straight.
 
After 28 minutes of scoreless action, the Railsplitters took the lead for good in the 30th minute, as Victor Peres (Brasilia, Brazil) gained control of the ball amidst a scramble at the top of the box and dished it to da Silva on the left side. From there, da Silva ripped the ball into the right-hand corner of the net to make it 1-0.
 
The score held at 1-0 until the 67th minute, when the Railsplitters used some unselfish play to get da Silva in some open space once again. Sophomore Philip Wong (Hong Kong, China) ignited that scoring chance, battling the Brevard defender to win the ball deep in Brevard territory before passing it back to the middle of the box, where he found senior George Burne (Carlisle, England). Burne then connected with da Silva, who netted his fourth goal of the season and second of the match off of the double assist.
 
Those two goals were more than enough for the Railsplitter defense, which posted its first shutout of the season. Brevard produced just five shots in the match, and freshmen netminder August Ahlin (Stockholm, Sweden) stopped the Tornados' only shot on goal with a brilliant save in the 51st minute. Ahlin and Pedro Ozi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) combined to record the shutout.
 
Brevard goalkeeper Heath Turner made six saves over 90 minutes of action to fall to 2-2 on the season.
 
The Railsplitters collected 12 shots with eight shots on goal. Da Silva led all players with five shots and four shots on goal, while Wong had two shots and landed one on target.
 
With his third assist of the season on da Silva's first goal, Peres is now one of just four players in the SAC with at least three assists.
 
The Railsplitters have now had a winning streak of at least four games in each of the past five seasons. The 2012 team is responsible for the longest winning streak over that stretch, as that squad churned out a seven-game streak.
 
Lincoln Memorial will be back in action on Saturday, September 17, as the Railsplitters travel to Charlotte, N.C. to face the Queens Royals in a SAC match beginning at 4:30 p.m.