COLUMBUS, Ga. – West Alabama struck early and never looked back in a 3-0 win over the Lady Railsplitters on Sunday morning at the Walden Soccer Complex in Columbus, Ga.
 
Lincoln Memorial (0-2) allowed three goals for the second consecutive match and falls to 0-2 for the first time since the 2003 season, while West Alabama (2-0) posted its second straight shutout to remain unbeaten early in the 2016 season.
 
Statistically speaking, the Lady Railsplitters were equal to the Tigers, falling just a tad short in the shot battle 14-11 while amassing a 9-1 disparity in corner kick attempts. However, West Alabama produced a far greater percentage of quality shots, finishing with 10 shots on goal as opposed to just four for Lincoln Memorial.
 
Kirsten Reilly and TeMia Pride led the way for the Tigers, as Reilly tallied a goal and two assists, while Pride scored two goals to power the victory.
 
Pride staked West Alabama to a 1-0 lead less than seven minutes into the match, as she received a pass in the box from Reilly, made a quick turn and drove the ball into the net. Pride and Reilly connected again in the 34th minute to send the Tigers into the half with a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Tigers added to their lead in the 66th minute after Lincoln Memorial was called for a foul in the box. Reilly was called on to attempt the penalty kick and made good on that opportunity to push the Tigers ahead 3-0.
 
The Lady Railsplitters pressed the Tigers over the final five minutes of regulation, launching five shots during that span, but Gabby Garcia's (Aurora, Colo.) shot was the only one to land on goal. West Alabama's Issy Foster made the stop, though, to preserve the shutout victory.
 
Garcia led the Lady Railsplitters with four shots and two shots on goal, while Michelle Hunter (Tecumseh, Ontario) and Melissa Carpenter (Jacksonville, Fla.) tallied two shots and a shot on goal apiece.
 
Reilly and Pride combined for 11 of West Alabama's 14 shots. Reilly, who finished with four points in the contest, had six shots and four shots on goal, while Pride had five shots with four landing on goal.
 
Senior Kathryn Lundy (Pinckney, Mich.) made the start in goal for the Lady Railsplitters, allowing two goals with two saves before giving way to Brooke Taylor (White Pine, Tenn.) at the start of the second half. Taylor allowed just the one penalty kick goal and made a career-high five saves in 45 minutes of work.
 
Foster notched her second shutout for West Alabama, tallying four stops in 90 minutes.
With the win, West Alabama got a little bit of payback for a 4-3 double overtime loss to the Lady Railsplitters in last season's opener, which saw Lincoln Memorial overcome a 2-0 deficit to stun the Tigers.
 
The Lady Railsplitters return to action on Sunday, September 11, hosting Lee in the LMU Soccer Complex opener at 2 p.m. Live stats and video links will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com.