HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lady Railsplitters (2-0) make their official LMU Soccer Complex debut on Friday when they welcome the USC Aiken Pacers (2-2) to town for a pivotal Southeast Region showdown with first touch set for 2 p.m.
 
Lincoln Memorial defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 3-0 on Sunday in its first home match of the season, but an abundance of rain forced that contest to be moved from Harrogate to the turf field at Union College's Williamson Stadium. USC Aiken, meanwhile, will be playing its fourth match in seven days and is coming off of a 1-0 win at North Greenville on Wednesday night.
 
The Basics
 
Friday, September 8 vs. USC Aiken – 2pm (LMU Soccer Complex)
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Quick Hits
 
- Freshman midfielder Mariana Diaz had a breakout performance to lead the Lady Railsplitters past Tennessee Wesleyan on Sunday, contributing directly to all three goals. Diaz tallied the first goal of her career in the 50th minute and added another one in the 66th minute. Between those two goals, the Knoxville, Tenn. native assisted on Caroline Souza's 56th minute goal. Diaz ended the match with five points, three shots and three shots on goal.
 
- Souza played a role in multiple goals for the Lady Railsplitters for the second consecutive match in the win over Tennessee Wesleyan. Along with her 56th minute score, Souza assisted on Diaz's game-winning goal in the 50th with a lead pass that led to a breakaway. Souza is currently tied for third in the South Atlantic Conference with seven points.
 
- After scoring three goals in both the season opener and the win over Tennessee Wesleyan, the Lady Railsplitters will be looking to score three-plus goals in three consecutive matches for the first time since the 2009 season. Lincoln Memorial is already halfway to its goal total from the entire 2016 campaign, when the Lady Railsplitters mustered just 12 goals. LMU is currently ranked first in the SAC in shooting percentage (.240) and third in total goals (6).
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are looking for their first 3-0 start since 2011. In fact, a win would secure the program's fourth 3-0 start this century, joining the 2004, 2010 and 2011 teams.
 
- Junior goalkeeper Brooke Taylor has been rock solid in her first two starts of the season, allowing just one goal while recording 16 saves, a .941 save percentage and a 0.50 goals against average. Taylor, who notched the first shutout of her career against Tennessee Wesleyan, is currently ranked third in the SAC in save percentage.
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are one of three unbeaten teams left in the SAC along with No. 12 nationally-ranked Carson-Newman (3-0) and No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne (3-0).
 
Know the Opponent
 
- The Pacers have been busy since the season started on August 31, as Friday stands as USC Aiken's fifth match over a nine-day stretch. USC Aiken opened the season with a 4-1 beatdown of Mars Hill, but followed that up with a 6-0 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne and a 2-1 setback to Belmont Abbey. The Pacers got back on track on Wednesday night with a 1-0 win at North Greenville.
 
- In the win at North Greenville, Marissa Lee scored in the 42nd minute to account for the only goal of the match. The Pacers were then content to sit back for the final 48 minutes, registering just five second-half shot attempts.
 
- Senior midfielder Sarah Moore leads the Pacers with five points on two goals and an assist, but did every bit of that damage in the season opener against Mars Hill. She has since recorded just three total shot attempts over the last three matches.
 
- Senior midfielder Tori Caldwell has a goal and an assist for the Pacers, while Lee, Sarah Drury and Catherine McHale have also accounted for a goal apiece. McHale and Gressa Olson lead the team with eight shots each.
 
- 5-8 senior Karin Cadwalader has started all four matches in goal for the Pacers, producing a 2.57 goals against average and a .550 save percentage. Those numbers are largely a product of Cadwalader's dreadful performance against Lenoir-Rhyne, when she allowed six goals and made just six saves over 90 minutes of work.
 
- USC Aiken has outshot its opponents 57-38 so far this season, but that is mostly representative of that season-opening win over Mars Hill, when the Pacers outshot the Lions 21-4. Taking that match out of the equation, the Paces have accounted for an average of just 12 shots per match, which ranks seventh in the Peach Belt Conference. In the loss to Lenoir-Rhyne, USC Aiken didn't record its first shot until the 37th minute.  
 
Head-to-Head
 
The Lady Railsplitters and Pacers are renewing their rivalry for the first time since the 2013 season, when Lincoln Memorial suffered a 2-1 overtime loss in Aiken, S.C. That stands as LMU's only loss in the series, as the Lady Railsplitters beat the Pacers in 2001, 2007, 2008 and 2012. The two teams have played in Harrogate just once – a 2-0 LMU win in 2012.