BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – The Lady Railsplitters will look to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012 when they host the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Union College's Williamson Stadium. The match was originally going to serve as the team's LMU Soccer Complex debut, but an abundance of rain forced the match to be moved to Union's turf field.
Lincoln Memorial (1-0) is coming off of a convincing 3-1 win at Erskine on Thursday evening to open the
Sean Fraser era. Tennessee Wesleyan, meanwhile, is playing its first regular-season match since beating Cumberland University 2-1 on August 24. The Bulldogs were most recently in action on August 27, when they played an exhibition at Belmont and suffered a 5-0 loss.
The Basics
Sunday, September 3 vs. Tennessee Wesleyan – 1 p.m. at Union College
Live Stats
Quick Hits
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Caroline Souza scored in the 10th minute and added another goal in the 63rd minute to pace the Lady Railsplitters' season-opening win at Erskine. Lincoln Memorial also scored off of an own goal in the 18th minute to complete the scoring. It was the first three-goal performance for the Lady Railsplitters since a four-goal outburst at Converse on October 4, 2016. Coincidentally, Souza also scored twice in that match.
- In her 18th career match with the Lady Railsplitters, junior defender
Courtney Boyd recorded the first point of her college career in that win at Erskine. Boyd set up a breakaway goal for Souza to give Lincoln Memorial a 3-1 lead that it wouldn't relinquish.
- Junior goalkeeper
Brooke Taylor starred for the LMU defense in that win at Erskine, recording a career-high nine saves, including five in the final eight minutes. Taylor's previous career-high mark for saves was seven during last season's match against Tusculum.
- The Lady Railsplitters are aiming to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2012, when LMU beat Alabama-Huntsville and USC Aiken back-to-back. Lincoln Memorial ended that season with a 7-7-2 overall record.
- Sunday marks the start of a home-heavy stretch for the Lady Railsplitters. After hosting Tennessee Wesleyan in nearby Barbourville, Lincoln Memorial welcomes USC Aiken (9/8) and Young Harris (9/10) to the LMU Soccer Complex. The Lady Railsplitters go on the road to face Tusculum in the SAC opener on September 13, but come right back to Harrogate to host Queens on September 16.
- Prior to Erskine's late binge, the Lady Railsplitters were outshooting the Flying Fleet 12-8. Souza led the team with four shots, while Boyd and
Hanna Ratliff had two shots apiece.
Know the Opponent
- Senior forward Nicole Broderick led the Bulldogs to victory against Cumberland, scoring two goals on a team-leading five shots and three shots on goal. Midfielder Siobhan Patterson was the only other player for TWC with multiple shots, posting two shots with two shots on goal.
- In its exhibition game at Belmont, Tennessee Wesleyan conceded four second-half goals and were outshot 29-3 by the Bruins, who cruised to a 5-0 victory. Livia Walker accounted for all three Bulldog shots and landed two on goal.
- Goalkeeper McKenna Loges has been solid in her two appearances this season. She made 12 saves in the Bulldogs' win over Cumberland and matched that mark again in the loss at Belmont.
- Tennessee Wesleyan is led by veteran head coach Naomi Kolarova, who is in the midst of her 12th season in Athens, Tenn. Last season, she guided the Bulldogs to a 13-6-2 overall record and a 6-3-1 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference play.
- The Bulldogs' roster is composed primarily of underclassmen. Fifteen of the team's 28 players are either freshmen or sophomores.
Head-to-Head
- The Lady Railsplitters are 6-2 all-time against Tennessee Wesleyan and have won the last two meetings between the two programs. Lincoln Memorial last faced the Bulldogs in 2010, pulling out a 2-0 victory. That was one of four shutouts the Lady Railsplitters have posted against Bulldogs all-time. It marks LMU's first home meeting in the series since 2009.
