HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Railsplitters (1-1) will have their hands full on Wednesday afternoon, when they open the LMU Soccer Complex with an NCAA Division II showdown against the Southern Wesleyan Warriors (2-0). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. in Harrogate.
 
Schedule/Game Day Links
 
Wednesday, September 7 vs. Southern Wesleyan (4pm) Live Stats / Video
 
Notes on the Railsplitters:
Preview with Coach D'Anna on the Papa John's Splitter Sound Bites podcast
 
-Lincoln Memorial went 1-1 in the season-opening CSU Invitational in Columbus, Ga. this past weekend. Despite outshooting Montevallo 20-6 in the match and 12-0 in the second half, the Railsplitters suffered a 2-1 loss in the 2016 opener last Thursday. However, the Railsplitters bounced back with a 2-1 triumph over UNC Pembroke on Saturday morning, recording a 19-3 advantage in shot attempts and a 6-2 edge in shots on goal.
-Sophomore forward Victor Peres (Brasilia, Brazil) had a hand in two of the Railsplitters' four goals over the weekend, assisting on George Burne's (Carlisle, England) score in the Montevallo match while notching his first goal of the 2016 campaign in the 74th minute of the UNC Pembroke match. Through two appearances, Peres has accounted for eight shots and four shots on goal.
-Reigning All-Southeast Region striker Danilo da Silva (Campinas, Brazil) was a force to be reckoned with in those two contests as well, posting an assist with a team-leading 11 shots and four shots on goal. Da Silva assisted on Peres' 59th-minute goal against UNC Pembroke to stake the Railsplitters to a 1-0 lead.
-Over that two-match stint in Columbus, the Railsplitters outshot their two opponents by a combined 39-9 margin, amassing 12 shots on goal while allowing just five total. In 180 minutes, Lincoln Memorial has allowed a mere three goals in live action, as Montevallo's game-winner came via a penalty kick.
-Since the start of the 2012 campaign, the Railsplitters are 18-8-1 at the LMU Soccer Complex. Lincoln Memorial went 3-3-1 at home last season, but hasn't lost a home, nonconference match since falling 1-0 to Lees-McRae in October, 2014.
 
Notes on Southern Wesleyan:
 
-The Warriors' first season as a fully-functional NCAA Division II member is off to a solid start, as Southern Wesleyan kicked off the 2016 campaign with wins over Montreat (2-1) and Bob Jones (4-2) last week. Southern Wesleyan, which is located in Central, S.C., is competing in the Conference Carolinas after completing the transition from the NAIA.
-Through two matches, the Warriors have been potent on offense, averaging 17 shots, 8.5 shots on goal and 3.00 goals per match. Southern Wesleyan has also accounted for nearly six corner kick attempts per appearance as well with 11 total on the season.
-Six different players have scored for the Warriors already. Junior defender Sebastian Castro is pacing SWU in scoring with a goal and an assist, while Sven Hansen, Michel Herszenhaut, Ivan Malagon, Skyler Mattox and Christian Taylor have also tallied for the Warriors. Taylor and Marcelo Vargas lead the Warriors in shot attempts with five apiece.
-Sophomore goalkeeper Miguel Uribe started and played the entirety of each of the Warriors' first two matches, accounting for a 1.50 goals against average, five saves and a .625 save percentage.
-The Warriors went 15-7-2 overall last season and notched wins over Brevard, Newberry and Mount Olive along the way. Southern Wesleyan defeated Bethel College 2-0 to win the NCCAA National Championship.
 
Series History:
 
-Wednesday will mark just the second all-time meeting between Lincoln Memorial and Southern Wesleyan and the first in 20 years. The Railsplitters are 1-0 in the series, as they defeated the Warriors 4-3 in Central, S.C. at the front end of the 1996 season.