HARROGATE, Tenn. – Fourth-seeded Lincoln Memorial (10-3-3) rallied for a 3-1 win over the fifth-seeded Mars Hill Lions (5-8-2) in the quarterfinals of the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tuesday afternoon at the LMU Soccer Complex.
 
With the win, the Railsplitters advance to the semifinal round for the third straight year. The team will face off with the winner of Tuesday night's match between top-seeded Wingate and eighth-seeded Newberry. The semifinal match is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. Friday at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.
 
The win was Lincoln Memorial's first over the Lions since 2010 and snapped a nine-game losing streak in the series.
 
Mars Hill struck first on Elliot Tate's penalty kick score in the 44^th minute. LMU controlled possession for most of the first half while the Lions sat back on defense and waited for transition opportunities. That chance came just before halftime, which resulted in a Felipe de Sousa foul in the box. Tate converted for his first goal of the year.
 
Lincoln Memorial outshot the Lions 12-3 in the first half, but Mars Hill went into halftime with the 1-0 advantage.
 
The Railsplitters kept up their offensive pressure to open the second half, and it finally paid off in the 58th minute. Henrique Rezek netted the equalizer, his third goal of the season, in the 60^th minute. An LMU corner attempt was knocked around several times in front of the goal before the ball bounced to an open Rezek. His shot found an opening and past a diving Ben Lucas.
 
The Railsplitters attempted 11 corners to Mars Hill's four.
 
Danilo da Silva put the Railsplitters ahead just over ten minutes later. Victor Peres sent a long pass his way from midfield in the 71^st minute that led to a one-on-one breakaway. Da Silva, the regular-season SAC points leader, did the rest by successfully beating the Mars Hill defender to create the open shot.
 
De Sousa added an insurance goal in the 79^th minute on another breakaway led by Miguel Reis. Reis passed across the box to his left to the open de Sousa for the score.
 
LMU outshot Mars Hill 23-11 and landed ten shots on goal to the Lions' three.
 
Da Silva tied his season high with seven shot attempts and landed four on goal. De Sousa and Felipe Machado attempted three shots apiece. Stian Sanner led the Lions with three shots.
 
Caleb Cothrin saved both Mars Hill shots on goal that weren't the result of a penalty kick. Lucas, his counterpart, made seven saves.
 
Quick Hits
 
- Lincoln Memorial has now advanced to the SAC Championship semifinal match in six of the past seven years.
 
- Da Silva increased his SAC-leading points total to 31. He has recorded at least one point in every match LMU has scored.
 
- The Railsplitters finish the year 6-1-1 at home and 4-1-1 against SAC opponents. LMU scored at least twice in seven of its eight home matches with the lone exception being a 1-0 regular-season loss to Mars Hill.
 
Up Next
 
The Railsplitters will face either Wingate or Newberry in the semifinal of the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Championship Friday at 11 a.m. in Rock Hill, S.C.