HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial women's soccer team will seek its first four-matching winning streak since 2014 on Wednesday afternoon when the Tusculum Pioneers invade the LMU Soccer Complex pitch for a South Atlantic Conference contest at 1 p.m. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters (8-3, 4-2 SAC) earned their second signature win in as many matches on Saturday evening with a 2-1 victory at Lenoir-Rhyne, snapping a five-match road losing streak in the series that dated back to 2009. LMU also surpassed its win total from the 2017 campaign and secured its most wins since the 2014 squad went 9-4-3. 
 
Tusculum (6-4-3, 3-2-2 SAC) has not lost since a 3-1 setback against Lenoir-Rhyne on September 26, but the Pioneers are coming off a 1-1 draw at Anderson on Saturday. That is the team's second draw in its last three fixtures, as Tusculum also settled for a draw against Newberry on October 6. 
 
The Basics 
 
Wednesday, October 17 vs. Tusculum – 1pm
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Quick Hits 
 
- Jessica Cravero tallied her 10th goal of the season in the 22nd minute and Caroline Souza scored the eventual game-winner in the 60th minute to propel the Lady Railsplitters in their 2-1 triumph at Lenoir-Rhyne. After being outshot 6-0 through the first 20 minutes, LMU settled in and outshot the Bears 12-8 the rest of the way. 
 
- Souza's game-winning goal – her second score of the season – was particularly special for the senior striker. Souza's 2017 season was cut short by a torn ACL that she suffered against Lenoir-Rhyne. This season, Souza was back at full strength and secured the Lady Railsplitters' first road victory against the Bears since 2007. 
 
- Both Cravero and Itzel Ballesteros claimed a little bit of history in Saturday's win. Cravero, who is now tied for second in the SAC with 10 goals, became the first Lady Railsplitter with double-digit goals since Sarah Taylor hit the 10-goal mark in 2010. Ballesteros, meanwhile, took over the SAC lead in assists (8) by recording two more against L-R. Her eight assists are also the most since Taylor registered 11 in 2010. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are one of the stingiest defensive units in the SAC, ranking second in the league with a 1.00 goals against average and 11 goals against total. Lincoln Memorial leads the SAC with six shutouts. Junior goalie Ann-Marie O'Connell has played a big role in that, ranking fifth among conference keepers with a 1.05 goals against average. 
 
- LMU has outshot its opponents 185-127 cumulatively. That includes a combined 92-60 edge in the second half. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are 3-2 in home matches this season but will be playing just their second match at the LMU Soccer Complex since the middle of September. Between home dates against Carson-Newman (September 19) and Wingate (October 6), the Lady Railsplitters had four road tilts and a home match against Anderson in Knoxville. LMU is 3-1 on its home pitch with wins over Erskine, Salem and Wingate. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are in fifth place in the SAC standings but have also played one less match than the four teams in front of them. Additionally, LMU has wins over two of those teams, Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne. 
 
Know the Opponent 
 
- Tusculum is one point behind the Lady Railsplitters in the standings with a 3-2-2 conference mark. Over their past five outings, the Pioneers drew 1-1 at Anderson, beat Shaw 2-0, tied Newberry 1-1, handed reigning national runner-up Carson-Newman its first SAC loss 2-1 and defeated Catawba 3-1. 
 
- While the victory over Carson-Newman is among the best wins by any team in the conference this season, Tusculum also has a couple head-scratching results, including that 1-1 draw against Newberry, who is in 10th place in the SAC at 0-5-1. The Pioneers were also beaten handedly by seventh-place Wingate. 
 
- Eleven players have scored at least one goal for the Pioneers this season. Sonja Ballmert and Brooke Radcliffe lead the team with three goals apiece while Ballmert has also contributed three assists. Elise Gallo, Kate Guildford and Emma Macdonald have added three goals apiece. Nicole McMillen has not scored a goal and has attempted only one shot but leads the team with seven assists.  
 
- Senior Hannah Graham has made eight starts in goal, while freshman Bailey Bosler has made five. Bosler made the start in the Pioneers' most recent outing against Anderson, recording 11 saves over 110 minutes of work. Graham leads the team with a 0.99 goals against average and 41 saves. 
 
- Tusculum is 2-3-1 on the road compared to 4-1-2 at home. The Pioneers have also scored only seven goals in six road matches, a slight drop off from their 12 goals in seven home fixtures. 
 
Series History 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are 10-15-3 in the all-time series against Tusculum, which dates back to the 1994 campaign. 
 
- LMU is 0-2-1 in the previous three meetings. The Lady Railsplitters have been shutout in each of the last two matches against Tusculum, falling 1-0 last season and 2-0 in 2016. The two teams drew 3-3 at Tusculum in 2015. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters last beat the Pioneers in 2014, winning 2-1 at the LMU Soccer Complex.