COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The Railsplitters rebounded from a frustrating offensive performance in the season opener to defeat UNC Pembroke 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in Columbus, Ga.
 
After outshooting Montevallo 20-6 and coming up short in the 2016 opener on Thursday night, Lincoln Memorial (1-1) put forth a similar performance against the Braves (0-1), accounting for a 19-3 advantage in shot attempts, a 6-2 edge in shots on goal and an 8-5 margin on corner kicks. However, the Railsplitters were able to capitalize on that possession disparity this time around, tallying a pair of second-half goals to defeat UNC Pembroke in the first meeting between the two programs in more than 25 years.
 
The Railsplitters dominated the first half of play, outshooting the Braves 8-1 while producing a 6-1 edge in corner kick attempts. Despite that effort, the first 45 minutes would pass in scoreless fashion, as Lincoln Memorial and UNC Pembroke went into the break knotted at 0-0.
 
That changed less than 14 minutes into the second half, as reigning All-Region forward Danilo da Silva (Campinas, Brazil) notched his first point of the season with an assist on Victor Peres' (Brasilia, Brazil) first goal of the season. That goal came in the 59th minute, as da Silva played the ball into the box for Peres, who made one touch and knocked it around the Braves keeper.
 
The Railsplitters added what proved to be a significant insurance goal in the 74th minute. Preseason All-SAC first team selection Henrique Rezek (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) set up the score with a free kick from the left corner, which was finished off with a brilliant header from Ronaldo de Jesus (Campinas, Brazil). The assist was Rezek's first of the season, while the goal was the first of de Jesus' tenure with the Railsplitters.
 
That goal ended up being the difference in the match, as Josh Hanratty connected with Jordan Walshaw in the 80th minute to pull the Braves within one, but that would be their last decent scoring opportunity until a late corner kick, which came up empty.
 
Rezek, Peres and da Silva paced the Railsplitters with a match-leading four shots apiece, while Peres led all players with three shots on goal. Andres Pratto (Buenos Aires, Argentina) also matched the Braves' shot output with three attempts. Walshaw led UNC Pembroke with two shots, both of which landed on goal.
 
Freshman August Ahlin (Stockholm, Sweden) picked up the first win of his college career, improving to 1-1 after making one save in 90 minutes of action. On the other end of the field, UNC Pembroke's Trenton Spigener made four saves and allowed a pair of goals over that same span.
 
With the win, the Railsplitters improve to 2-1 all-time against UNC Pembroke in the first meeting between the two programs since 1990.
 
Lincoln Memorial is back in action on Wednesday, September 7, welcoming Southern Wesleyan to the LMU Soccer Complex for the home opener. That match is slated to get underway at 4 p.m. Live stats and video links will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com.