HARROGATE, Tenn. – Dallas Wade scored with 70 seconds remaining in overtime to help the Tusculum Pioneers (7-2, 3-1 SAC) escape the LMU Lacrosse Complex with a thrilling 13-12 win over the Railsplitters (5-5, 1-3 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference action on Wednesday afternoon.
 
In a game full of dramatic twists and turns, Lincoln Memorial fell on the losing end of the final momentum shift, as Tusculum captured its second overtime win in Harrogate of the past three seasons and avenged last season's 13-12 loss to the Railsplitters in Greeneville.
 
Billy Kopsky led Lincoln Memorial with two goals and two assists, while Kyle Arcuri had three goals and scooped up a team-leading seven groundballs. Robert Tucker and Adam Golia chipped in two goals apiece, with Golia's second goal capping a late 3-1 run to send the match to overtime. Dylan Neisler, Josh Hernandez and Tylor Justin also scored in the contest.
 
Ben Boyd fueled the Pioneer attack with a match-high four goals and nine shots. Nate Wade scored two goals, while Chris Ryan, who scored the overtime winner against the Railsplitters in 2015, contributed a goal and two assists. Tyler Klarner had two goals and an assist, while Dallas Wade finished with an assist and the game-winning goal. Liam Macdonald had two assists with his final one coming on Wade's winner.
 
The loss spoiled another strong performance in goal by Joe Medel, who made 17 saves – two shy of his season-high mark – on a 56.7 save percentage. His counterpart Kevin Haggerty improved to 7-2 after making nine saves over 63 minutes of work.
 
The Pioneers dominated the opening quarter and raced out to a 4-1 lead after 15 minutes of action. Kopsky's goal at the 6:02 mark was the only marker for the Railsplitters over that span.
 
However, Lincoln Memorial turned the tide of the match in the second quarter, outscoring the visiting Pioneers 6-1 to carry a 7-5 lead into the break. Six different players scored for the Railsplitters in that quarter. Kopsky's goal with 33 seconds remaining gave LMU its first lead of the match, while Hernandez scored just seven seconds later.
 
The Railsplitters kept it going early in the third quarter, extending the lead to 9-5 on goals from Tucker (13:21) and Arcuri (12:01). But Tusculum closed the third frame on a 6-0 run powered by three goals from Boyd to take an 11-9 lead into the final quarter.
 
Lincoln Memorial kept knocking on the door in the fourth quarter, pulling to within one on Golia's goal at the 11:32 mark. However, Boyd's fourth goal of the second half gave the Pioneers at 12-10 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
 
The Railsplitters finally broke through as the minutes ticked away, as Arcuri scored off a Kopsky assist with 7:39 remaining before Golia netted the game-tying goal in unassisted fashion with 4:48 left. Golia nearly gave the Railsplitters the lead with just over two minutes remaining, but his shot deflected off the post. Medel was also called into action in the final minute, saving a shot from Macdonald to send the match to overtime.
 
Possession went back and forth early in overtime, and a miscue by Tusculum head coach Richard Carrington nearly cost the Pioneers, as he called a timeout that he didn't have to give the ball back to Lincoln Memorial.
 
Kopsky got off a good look in the ensuing possession, but it was saved by Haggerty, who flipped the field quickly to get the Pioneers a transition opportunity. Ryan's initial shot was saved by Medel, but Macdonald scooped up the groundball in front of the net and found Wade, who sent home the game-winner with 1:10 left on the clock.
 
In general, the Railsplitters dominated possession by winning 20 of the 29 face-offs and going 16-for-18 on clears. Lincoln Memorial also finished with a 42-38 edge in groundball recoveries, but Tusculum outshot the home team 46-34 with a 30-21 advantage in shots on goal. The Railsplitters finished with 22 turnovers compared to only 10 for the Pioneers.
 
It marked the third loss by two goals or fewer this season for the Railsplitters, who head to Brevard on Saturday, April 1 for a SAC battle against the Tornados beginning at 1 p.m.